Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (16): 2571-2579.doi: 10.12307/2023.139

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Application of allograft bone materials in spinal fusion

Cai Yuanqing, Liu Mozhen, Li Zhonghai   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116600, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2022-04-16 Accepted:2022-05-28 Online:2023-06-08 Published:2022-11-11
  • Contact: Li Zhonghai, MD, Master’s supervisor, Associate chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116600, Liaoning Province, China
  • About author:Cai Yuanqing, Master candidate, Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116600, Liaoning Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Science and Technology Benefit Project of Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Dalian, No. 2020JJ27SN070 (to LZH)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is necessary to select an effective bone graft material in spinal fusion. Autograft was considered as the “gold standard” of spinal fusion, but there are complications such as donor site morbidity. Allograft can avoid complications associated with harvesting and donor’s volume is sufficient. Different allograft bone materials exhibit its excellent osteogenic ability when using at different sites of spine in spinal fusion.
OBJECTIVE: To review the application status quo of allograft material in spinal fusion in recent years. 
METHODS: Relevant articles in Chinese and English published in PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI Database from 1990 to 2022 were retrieved. Search terms were “fresh frozen bone, autograft, allograft, freeze-dried bone, demineralized bone matrix, allograft spacer, spinal fusion” in English and Chinese, separately. After screening, 95 articles were included and reviewed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Fresh frozen allograft is less used clinically due to its risk of immune rejection and transmission of disease. The fusion effect of freeze-dried bone is similar to autograft bone despite its delayed union in the end. Demineralized bone matrix is a useful graft material when it is used as a graft extender in combination with autograft or to fill the cages to play its biggest fusion ability. The combination with a carrier such as calcium sulfate or hydroxyapatite results in a significant increase in its plasticity and osteogenic activity. The new anatomic allograft spacer has good osteogenic activity, high clinical fusion rate and is effective in maintaining the intervertebral space height and the normal shape of intervertebral foramen. A large number of existing clinical studies have shown that allograft bone material can achieve the same fusion efficiency as autograft bone in spinal fusion, and is as safe and effective as autograft bone. It is a good choice for surgeons and has been widely used in clinical practice.

Key words: spinal fusion, autograft, allograft, freeze-dried bone, demineralized bone matrix, interbody spacer

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