Use of occipital bone graft in pediatric posterior cervical fusion: an alternative paramedian technique and review of the literature

J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2011 May;7(5):475-81. doi: 10.3171/2011.2.PEDS10331.

Abstract

An alternative method of bone grafting for pediatric posterior cervical and occipitocervical fixation is presented in detail. Full-thickness autografts from small craniectomies of the occipital bone are used to augment posterior segmental fusion in pediatric patients. Twelve patients have been treated successfully without bone graft donor site complications. The technical differences from previously reported uses of calvarial autograft in spine fusion are reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Transplantation / methods*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Occipital Bone / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Spinal Fusion / methods*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult