[Cervical spine operation using coralline hydroxyapatite].

OBJECTIVE

To study the result of using coralline hydroxyapatite (CHA) in cervical anterior fusion and posterior laminoplasty operation.

METHODS

45 patients of cervical operation using CHA were followed up. Of these patients, 27 received anterior fusion and titanium plate fixation (34 levels fused). 18 with spinal stenosis at least at 3 levels, (posterior spinal process-splitting laminoplasty) had 79 split spinal processes fused by CHA. The average follow-up time was 25.9 months.

RESULTS

The union rate of CHA was 85.3% in average by anterior approach. The height and angle of the fused level and the anterior salient were well maintained. The JOA score improvement rate was 58.7%. The CHA grafts were kept well between the split spinous processes with a union rate of 70.9%. After operation, the spinal cord moved dorsally, and the flat rate was improved from 0.19 to 0.41. No apparent posterior salient occurred. The JOA score improvement rate was 51%.

CONCLUSION

The effect of CHA in cervical antero posterior operation is similar to that of autograft bone, and it is unnecessary to resect a piece of bone from a health region of the body.