Study design: Posterior lumbar spinal fusion segments were evaluated in 9 adult mongrel dogs 6, 12, and 26 weeks after implantation. Four sites on each animal received implants consisting of demineralized bone matrix alone, demineralized bone matrix with allograft bone, allograft bone alone, and autograft bone. Each unilateral fusion spanned one motion segment with one intervening vertebral level left undisturbed using T13-L7. The fusions were evaluated radiographically, mechanically, and histologically.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of demineralized bone matrix as a bone graft substitute for stable posterior spinal fusion.
Summary of background data: Posterior spinal fusion is a procedure commonly performed for spinal stabilization. Increasing the incidence and speed of stable spinal fusion is a primary goal in spinal surgery. Concerns have developed regarding the graft material used to induce bone healing at the fusion site. The advent of osteoinductive materials, such as demineralized bone matrix, may eliminate the need to harvest autograft bone and may circumvent the immunologic response and lower osteogenic potential associated with allograft bone.
Methods: The quality of fusion and new bone formation was evaluated radiographically using plain films, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. After the dogs were killed, each fusion segment was evaluated mechanically in torsion to determine stiffness and histologically to determine qualitative parameters of new bone formation and remodeling.
Results: Radiographic studies showed that autograft bone sites achieved stable fusion by 26 weeks after surgery. Conversely, the demineralized bone matrix alone and with allograft bone demonstrated some new bone formation at 6 and 12 weeks, but did not achieve fusion by 26 weeks. The fusion sites of allograft bone alone showed minimal new bone formation at all time periods. Mechanically, the autograft fusion sites demonstrated torsional stability that was significantly greater than that of all other fusion sites at all time periods. The remaining fusion sites showed equivalent torsional stiffness at all time periods. Histologic analysis confirmed the radiographic and mechanical findings.
Conclusions: The results indicate that demineralized bone matrix alone or with allograft bone is ineffective in achieving stable posterior spinal fusions.