Alternatives to Autogenous Bone Graft in Revision Lumbar Spine Surgery

Attaining spinal fusion depends on multiple biological factors and biomechanical factors. One important factor is the choice of bone graft material for the different spine locations. Although autogenous bone graft is the gold standard for bone grafting, it has its limitations. When considering revising lumbar fusion, one should correct all the possible factors that could have led to the pseudoarthrosis. These include the choice of bone graft material, preparation of the host graft surface, graft placement environment, and construct stability. This article focuses on the choice of graft materials as alternatives to human bone graft.

Keywords: bone graft, posterolateral fusion, revision, autograft, rhBMP