The Dowel Intervertebral-Body Fusion as Used in Lumbar-Disc Surgery

¹ Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus

1. The dowel intervertebral-body fusion is a simplified, safe way of doing body-to-body fusion.

2. The dowel fusion is an atraumatic form of interbody fusion and can be done in relatively short operative time.

3. As in other methods of fusing of the spine, the results of the dowel fusion appear to be the most successful when fusion is done between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. It is less successful when two levels are grafted.

4. It is advisable, when using iliac bone, to insert bilateral dowel grafts. The series in which cortical grafts were used is too small for evaluation.

5. To assure bone union, it is necessary to remove the vertebral-body end plates in the area of the graft in order that the dowel will be in cotntact with the cancellous bone of the vertebral bodies above and below the graft.

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