Aim:

To compare the clinical and radiological results of using synthetic graft versus spinous process obtained during surgery as a lumbar interbody graft.

Material and methods:

A retrospective study was conducted on 102 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent one-segment PLIF followed by one-segment posterior transpedicular instrumented fusion. PLIF operation was performed by using local solid bone graft obtained from spinous process in group A and PLIF operation was performed by using synthetic solid calcium hydroxyapatite block in group B. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, degree of bone formation, intervertebral disc heights at the operation segment, wound site infection, instrumental complications were compared between the groups at 6 months follow-up and 5 years.

Results:

In both groups, ODI and VAS values improved both at 6 months and 5 years. Bone formation scores at both 6 months and 5 years were superior in group A. However there was no significiant difference between the groups. And there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of maintaining the intervertebral disc heights. Surgical wound infection was more common in the group B but there was no significant difference between the groups and in the group B rod fractures were observed in 2 patients however, no metal breakage was observed in the group A.

Conclusion:

Successful fusion of the intervertebral space and restoration of intervertebral height can be achieved and maintained with autograft which was made of the patient’s spinous processes.