Effects of autogenous bone graft impaction and tricalcium phosphate on anterior interbody fusion in the porcine lumbar spine.

Background Impaction grafting can be achieved inside the spinal fusion cages, but its effect on bone graft incorporation and spinal fusion has not been studied. Animals and methods We investigated the effect of impaction grafting on the bone graft healing and fusion potential of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) inside the carbon fiber reinforced spinal fusion device (Brantigan cage) in 10 Danish landrace pigs. Lumbar spine interbody fusion of L2/3, L4/5 and L6/7 using carbon fiber cages was performed on each pig. Cages filled with either loosely-packed autologous iliac bone graft, rod-impacted autologous bone graft or beta-TCP were randomly distributed to the three fusion levels. Half of the animals were followed for 8 weeks, and the other half for 16 weeks. Results Radiographs and CT evaluations showed that autograft levels had significantly better results than beta-TCP levels (p<0.001 Fisher's Exact Test). However, the difference between impacted and loosely-packed levels was not significant. Histomorphometric analysis showed no difference between the loosely-packed and impacted cages with regard to bone volume, bone marrow volume, cartilage and fibrous tissue volume, while both of the autograft levels differed from the beta-TCP levels in all of the aforementioned parameters. Fluorochrome studies demonstrated that bone mineral apposition rate was significantly higher in the impacted cages than in the loosely-packed cages at 16 weeks. Interpretation Manual impaction of autologous bone graft into the carbon fiber cages resulted in a faster mineral apposition rate by 16 weeks. Bone ingrowth and spinal fusion were not influenced by impaction grafting. Copyright 2004 Taylor & Francis