Optimal selection and preparation of fresh frozen corticocancellous allografts for anterior interbody lumbar spinal fusion.

To determine the effect of graft preparation on graft strength, corticocancellous grafts suitable for anterior interbody fusion were obtained from six cadavers using five different donor bone sites with different graft sectioning orientations and locations. Graft compression strength was determined in simulated physiological loading. The distal tibia and femoral head lumbar interbody grafts are significantly stronger than grafts prepared from other corticocancellous donor sites. Graft fabrication by cutting perpendicular to the long axis and closer to the long bone ends results in increased graft strength.