Ceramic interspinous block (CISB) assisted anterior interbody fusion.

Ceramic interspinous block (CISB) assisted anterior fusion system was developed. The system is recommended for patients with symptomatic disc degeneration and destructive lesions of the lumbar spine. One hundred and six patients who underwent CISB-assisted anterior fusion by one doctor (H.T.) from 1981 to 1987 were followed-up 2-6 years after the operation. A comparative study of the results between the CISB-assisted group and the CISB-unassisted anterior fusion group, performed by the same doctor during 1979-1981 for deranged disc, was also done. Satisfactory relief of back and leg pains, marked ADL recovery and early bone union were obtained in all of the CISB-assisted anterior fusion cases. The union rate was 98.9% in the CISB-assisted anterior fusion group, whereas in the CISB-unassisted group, it averaged 79%. The efficacy of CISB for anterior interbody fusion was also verified using a computer simulation. CISB implementation appears to create equalization of stress distribution on the graft-vertebra interface.