Comparison of autograft, coralline graft, and xenograft in promoting posterior spinal fusion

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Bone grafting constitutes a vital component in many reconstructive orthopaedic surgical procedures. They are widely used in patients undergoing thoracolumbar spinal surgery. The three choices of bone are autograft, coralline graft, and xenograft. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of autograft, coralline graft, and xenograft to spinal fusion. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand albino rabbits were divided into four groups of equal size. Decortication of posterior structures of the thoracal 10-12th vertebrae was performed in all rabbits. No graft material was used in group I (controls). The remaining three groups received autologous iliac crest bone graft, coralline graft, and xenograft dehydrated by solvents, respectively. The rabbits were sacrificed eight weeks postoperatively for manual, radiologic, histologic, and biomechanical evaluations. RESULTS: Manual and radiologic evaluations showed no fusion in the control group in which the lowest histologic and biomechanical scores were obtained. Manually and radiologically, fusion was found in 85.7% and in 78.5% with autologous iliac crest bone graft; in 61.1% and 61.1% with coralline graft, and in 55.5% and 50.0% with xenograft, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data substantiates the use of coralline graft and xenograft as appropriate and efficient materials alternative to autografts in obtaining posterior spinal fusion.