DISINTEGRATION OF CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL BOP GRAFTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL SEQUELAE - A REPORT OF 2 CASES

We report the case histories of two patients treated in our unit for c ervical radiculopathy by anterior cervical discectomy and BOP grafting . Both grafts disintegrated within 6 weeks of insertion resulting in i ncreased neurological deficit from cervical cord compression. At reope ration fibres from the grafts were found to have separated and the lar ger fragments had extruded into the vertebral canal. No evidence of in fection was seen, bur a foreign body reaction was found in one case. F ollowing graft removal the patients improved symptomatically although one was left with permanent mild biceps weakness.