Summary
Bovine bone chips (Surgibone®) were used in occipito-cervical fusion in nine patients with atlanto-axial instability due to rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were examined with CT 12–15 months after surgery.
Graft resorbtion was observed in one patient. The other 8 patients showed preserved grafts, in most cases the grafts appeared to be in contact with the underlying bone. One patient was revised, and at the grafted site a bony bridge was found.
In conclusion, the use of bovine chips in posterior occipitocervical fusion will not lead to predictable bone union. However, there seem to be exceptions to that rule.
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Säveland, H., Aspenberg, P., Zygmunt, S. et al. Bovine bone grafting in occipito-cervical fusion for atlanto-axial instability in rheumatoid arthritis. Acta neurochir 127, 186–190 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01808764
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01808764