{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04719101123595506, 'fraction_numerical': 0.05093632958801498, 'mean_word_length': 4.859649122807017, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
The use of locally harvested bone chips as a graft in spine fusion surgery.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of local corticocancellous bone chips used for fusion in various kinds of spine surgeries.


METHODS
The observational prospective study was conducted at the Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, and Aman Hospital, Peshawar, from April 2011 to April 2013, and comprised cases in which locally harvested bone chips removed during decompression were used as bone graft for arthodesis. All cases were successfully followed up for at least one year. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Of the80 patients in the study, 44(55%) were female and 36(45%) were male. The overall mean age was 39.5±12.7 years (range: 13-75 years). Besides, 34(42.5%) were operated for spine surgery, 22(27.5%) for spondylolisthesis, 12(15.0%) for disc degeneration and 12 (15%) for spinal stenosis. In 54(67.5%) patients posterio-lateral fusion with decompression was done, while in 26(32.5%) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion was done. Oswestry Disability Index scoreat last follow-up ranged from 4 to 56 with a mean of 17.7±10.7.


CONCLUSIONS
Locally harvested bone chips are reasonable alternative to iliac crest bone graft, having comparable results while avoiding donor site morbidity associated with iliac crest bone grafts.