Abstract

This prospective study evaluates the clinical and radiological results of anterior lumbar interbody fusion using a femoral cortical ring allograft (FCA) packed with cancellous autologous bone (hybrid graft), combined with posterior pedicular fixation but without posterior fusion, for symptomatic degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Twenty-eight out of 30 consecutive adult patients were followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. Intra- and postoperative complications were seen in 2 out of 28 patients (7%); no complications resulted from the allografts. Clinically, 24 out of 28 patients (85%) had a good to excellent result, one patient (4%) a fair result, and 3 patients (11%) a poor result. Radiologically, the overall fusion rate by the level was 98% in 28 patients.