Clinical and Radiographic Analysis of Mineralized Collagen in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Nanocomposites and nanostructured materials are believed to play a key role in orthopaedic research, as the bone itself being a typical example of a nanocomposite. The mineralized collagen (MC) was developed by biomimetic synthesis wherein nano hydroxyapatite and mineralized collagen assembled fibres, mimics natural bone, both composition and microstructure somewhat. In this retrospective, non-randomized matched clinical, blocks of MC as a bone graft substitute combined with the local bone and autogenously iliac crest were implanted separately in 28 pairs of patients who underwent a posterior lumbar interbody fusion at one level (PLIF). Mean operative time and mean blood loss in the group Bone MC/local were significantly lower than the group of iliac crest bone graft. After 2 years, the X-rays and CT scans revealed that the fusion result was evident in 92% of patients in the bone MC/local, compared with 94% in the autogenous iliac crest. During the final follow-up time, the Oswestry Disability Index scores, the average scores for back and leg pain showed significant improvement compared with the preoperative scores in both groups, however, a large number of patients in the graft in iliac crest presented with persistent pain at the donor site. In the posterior lumbar interbody fusion using MC bone mixed with the local bone as extender, it reduces operating time and blood loss, the rates of fusion yields were satisfactory compared to autogenous iliac crest and avoided the problem of morbidity regarding donor site harvesting iliac bone.