Results of allogeneic bone transplants in spondylodesis of the spine

The use of allogeneic bone bank bone was evaluated in 67 patients, operated for disorders of the spine. In 26 patients with paralytic scoliosis a pseudarthrosis developed three times and there was one infection. In 28 patients with other causes of scoliosis there were also three cases with pseudarthrosis. In the group of posterolateral arthrodesis of the lumbar spine we saw four patients out of 13 with pseudarthrosis. The results are in accordance with the literature. The use of allogeneic bone in scoliosis surgery is justified in view of the acceptable pseudarthrosis rate and the low incidence of infection. In the lumbar spine group, however, the use of bone bank bone gives less satisfactory results. The use of autologous bone is recommended for this group. There were no signs of transmission of infectious diseases in the total group of patients.