Introduction: Fifty patients underwent anterior cervical fusion and were treated with a stand-alone device using autograft with or without a resorbable bone putty. Hemasorb Plus (Abryx) (HP) is a proprietary formulation comprised of granular hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate.
Methods: There were 50 patients; male/female = 25/25; age range of 26 years - 85 years (mean 52.7 years). Patients were divided amongst Group I: stand alone device with HP (n=35), and Group II: stand alone device without HP (n=15). HP was placed as a thin layer at open ends of the cage and autograft was packed in between. Patients were stratified to groups based on the primary surgeon. Patients underwent one-level (n=18), two-level (n=30), and three-level (n=2) fusions for a total of 84 levels. Device distribution and number of levels was as follows: LDR-C (24 patients; 40 levels); Coalition (19 patients; 34 levels), and Stalif-C (7 patients; 10 levels).
Results: Results reported are early at the second postoperative visit for the entire cohort of patients (4 months). Fusion rates: two patients with Stalif-C without HP (n = 2) (Group II); four patients with Coalition plus HP (n = 4) (Group I); and seventeen patients with LDR-C plus HP (n = 17) (Group I). Overall, 21 patients in Group I (42%) and 2 patients in Group 2 (4%) showed evidence of fusion within 4 months.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that autograft plus HP is an effective adjunct to anterior cervical fusion rather allograft.
Patient Care: Reduce costs with same or better outcomes for patients with anterior cervical diskectomy.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: 1) Understand the benefits of using of bone putty in anterior cervical fusion, 2) present this option to their patients.