The incorporation of allogeneic and autogenous bone graft in healing of lateral column lengthening of the calcaneus.

Lateral column calcaneal lengthening as described by Mosca is a widely accepted technique for the correction of hindfoot valgus and pes planus. It is performed with both allogeneic and autogenous bone graft. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incorporation of these 2 types of bone graft in this procedure. A retrospective review of all lateral calcaneal lengthenings performed by 4 pediatric orthopaedic surgeons over a 10-year period was conducted. Radiographs at the last follow-up visit were independently examined by 3 reviewers. Incorporation of the bone graft was determined by 2 criteria: (1) presence of continuity of trabecular lines between graft and native bone, and (2) inability to distinguish the boundary between bone graft and native bone. A consensus or majority opinion (2 out of 3 reviewers) was considered positive for graft incorporation. Thirty-five lateral column lengthenings in 26 patients were reviewed, 30 of which used allograft bone and 5 autograft. Ninety-seven percent of the allograft cases and 80% of the autograft cases were incorporated at final follow-up. There was 1 case of graft failure in each of the 2 groups. Follow-up in the allograft failure was 6 weeks; the autogenous failure 7.2 years. Interrater reliability was good (kappa=0.61, P < .0001). No adverse events or complications were noted with the use of allograft bone in this series. Allogeneic bone graft is rapidly integrated into native bone and is a desirable substitute to autogenous bone for use in lateral column lengthenings, avoiding any patient morbidity from graft harvesting.