The efficacy of autologous laminectomy bone combined with bone graft extenders in posterolateral lumbar instrumented fusion

Iliac crest autograft has been used successfully for many years in spinal fusion operations. The main advantages to iliac crest autograft are the easy accessibility, the robust combination of osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive properties, and the resultant efficacy. However, autograft iliac crest bone graft has fallen out of favor in spinal fusion operations due to the morbidity associated with harvest. Various bone graft substitutes have become commercially available that provide similar fusion rates when compared to iliac crest autograft. None of the bone graft substitutes can match iliac crest bone graft in all 3 osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive parameters, but when combined with local autologous laminectomy bone and, therefore, used as a bone graft extender, may very well come close. This article reviews the main categories of bone graft substitutes and extenders and the role of these substances when combined with local autologous laminectomy bone in posterolateral lumbar instrumented fusion operations.