Coral grafts used in cervical interbody fusions

Summary  Along this study, we evaluate an osseous substitute, natural Coral used in the lower cer-vical spine interbody fusions. We reviewed, in a retrospective study, 66 cases of lower cervical discopathies treated by radiculo-medullar decompression, coral arthrodesis and anterior osteosynthesis.Among the etiologies we note 74,2% of cervicobachial nevralgias by hard herniation. The average drawback is 45 months. The average age, at the intervention, is 46 years with an equivalent proportion between men and women. The global clinical results, evaluated in term of relative benefit, find again 89% of good and very good results. We note 7,5% of complications considered as serious.The radiologic study, at the review, enables to record;

–	a correction of the local sagittal curve (93% of the cases),
–	a restoration in height of the interbody space (97% of the cases),
–	the obtaining, between the 3rd and the 4th month,of a consolidation of the arthrodesis,
–	the replacement, variable, slow and progressive of the coral by newly formed bone (14% of the cases of almost total osteointegration within an average delay of 57 months).

On the biologic level, our results confirm the perfect biocompatibility of the natural coral implanted in interbody arthrodesis.In our indications, the natural coral of porosity 20% of the Acropora type, replaces the tricortical iliac graft since 6 years. It enables, by avoiding the inconveniences of the graft taking, to achieve through its mechanic resistance, its biocompatibility and its progressive osteointegration, a good quality arthrodesis.