Patellar allografts in anterior cervical fusion - a two-year clinical and radiographic study

Donor site morbidity, which occurs in 15% to 20% with the use of autografts for anterior cervical fusion, is eliminated with the use of allografts. While allografts from the iliac crest, ribs, fibula, femoral head and skull have been used in anterior cervical fusion, the use of patellar allografts has not been previously reported. Twenty-two patients underwent Cloward anterior cervical decompression and fusion using bicortical patellar allografts from 1993 to 1997. Fifteen patients, with a follow-up period of at least two years, were reviewed. Eleven patients (73.4%) had good or excellent results at an average of 42.8 months after surgery. Fourteen patients (93.4%) achieved union. Two patients (13.3%) developed collapse of the graft with extrusion, one of whom still achieved union. These results are comparable to those reported of anterior cervical fusion using autografts or other types of allografts.