High posterior cervical fusion rates with iliac autograft and Nanoss/bone marrow aspirate

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe cervical multilevel stenosis and an adequate lordotic curvature often undergo multilevel laminectomies with posterior instrumented fusions. Although the “gold standard” for the fusion mass remains iliac crest autograft, many require additional volume provided by bone graft expanders. Here, we studied the fusion rates for 32 patients undergoing multilevel cervical laminectomy and vertex/rod/eyelet/titanium cable fusions utilizing lamina/iliac autograft and the bone graft expander Nanoss (RTI Surgical, Alachua, FL, USA) with autogenous bone marrow aspirate (BMA). METHODS: Thirty-two patients, averaging 63.0 years of age, presented with severe cervical myeloradiculopathy (average Nurick Grade 4.4). Magnetic resonance (MR) studies documented 2–3-level high intrinsic cord signals, whereas computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed marked stenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)/ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL). Patients underwent multilevel lamnectomies/instrumented fusions, and were followed up for an average of 2.7 years. RESULTS: Multilevel laminectomies (2.8 levels) and average 7.8-level vertex/rod/eyelet/cable fusions were performed utilizing lamina/iliac crest autograft and Nanoss/BMA. Fusion was confirmed on X-ray/CT studies an average of 4.7 months postoperatively in 31 of 32 patients (97%); there was just one pseudarthrosis requiring secondary surgery. The only other complication was a delayed transient C5 palsy that fully resolved in 6 postoperative months. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-two severely myelopathic underwent 2.8-level cervical laminectomies/7.8 level fusions utilizing lamina/iliac autograft and Nanoss/BMA. Fusion was documented on both dynamic X-ray and CT studies in 31 of 32 (97%) patients an average of 4.7 months postoperatively. Nanoss/BMA appears to be a safe and effective bone graft expander that can be utilized for posterior cervical fusions.