Bone Marrow Clot for Posterior Lumbar Fusion

Efficacy of Autologous Bone Marrow Clot as Scaffold for Instrumental Posterior Lumbar Fusion

Bone marrow aspirate (BMA) in association to graft substitutes has long been introduced as a promising alternative to iliac crest bone graft in spinal fusion. However, BMA use is limited by the absence of a standardized technique, of a physical texture and by the possibility of dispersion away from the implant site. Recently, the potential use of a new formulation of BMA, named BMA clot, has been preclinically described. A prospective pilot clinical study designed to assessing the safety and efficacy of autologous vertebral BMA (vBMA) clot as multifunctional bio-scaffold in instrumental posterior lumbar fusion will be performed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients over the age of 18 at the time of surgery
• symptomatic degenerative spine disease needing posterior fusion at the lumbar tract

Exclusion Criteria:

• any form of local or systemic infections, inflammatory or autoimmune disease
• coagulation disorders
• tumor diseases
• alcohol or drug abuse
• pregnancy
• chemotherapeutic drugs that might interfere with bone regeneration processes
• revision surgery