Radiographic outcomes using freeze-dried cancellous allograft bone for posterior spinal fusion in pediatric idiopathic scoliosis.

The senior author (A.G.) has gained extensive experience using freeze-dried cancellous allograft chips to obtain solid posterior fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The purpose of this study is to determine whether this form of allograft bone will yield successful fusion rates and maintain a minimal loss of curve correction when combined with current segmental posterior spinal instrumentation systems. Radiographs of 55 patients were evaluated by two masked reviewers using a previously devised grading system. At an average follow-up of 39 months (minimum 24 months), the overall fusion rate was 92.7% and the loss of curve correction was 3.4 degrees. The results of this study show that freeze-dried allograft chips yield successful fusion rates and only minimal loss of curve when combined with current posterior spinal instrumentation systems in patients with pediatric idiopathic scoliosis.