Researchers conducted a prospective study to determine how tricortical anterior iliac crest bone graft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion affected donor site pain, quality of life and complications. They published their findings in Spine.
In the study, researchers analyzed 50 patients from two tertiary care centers for one year. Participants filled out SF-12 and numeric rating scale for pain in the arm, neck and donor site preoperatively and one week, two weeks, six weeks, three months to six months and one year postoperatively.
Researchers compared outcomes with a control group undergoing ACDF with allograft or Polyetheretherketone cages at one year.
Here are six takeaways from the study:
1. The mean SD donor site pain at one week was between 2.8 and 5.6, but decreased to between 2.2 and 2.4 at six weeks. The mean SD donor site pain was between 1.1 and 1.8 one year following the procedure.
2. Four percent of patients experienced moderate, persistent donor site pain at one year. A maximum of 10 percent of patients may have experienced moderate, persistent donor site pain at one year.
3. Based on a linear regression analysis, the researchers determined preoperative opioid use was an independent risk factor for increased donor site pain at one week and two weeks.
4. Both patient groups exhibited no difference in health-related outcomes at one year.
5. Of the patients, 4 percent had minor wound complications, but providers treated the wounds successfully with antibiotics.
6. Researchers found patients can expect most of their donor site pain resolved at six weeks postoperatively.
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