Allograft Bone in Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this long-term study was to determine the efficacy of allograft bone for spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Prior studies comparing allograft and autograft have been short term. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study was carried out on 111 patients with 132 total curves fused for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Minimum follow-up was 5 years (average 72 months). A variety of segmental instrumentation was used, with most being dual-rod, multiple-hook constructs. RESULTS: Average preoperative curve was 59 degrees with immediate correction to 29 degrees (51%) and final follow-up of 32.24 degrees (45.4%). Average loss of correction was 3.5 degrees (5.9%). There were three pseudarthroses, one infection, and no rod breakage. CONCLUSION: Pseudarthrosis rate of 2.7% and loss of correction of 5.9% are comparable with or better than those in previous reports using autogenous bone graft and either segmental or nonsegmental instrumentation.