Lumbar fusion using facet inlay grafts.

A long-term analysis of 106 patients who had lumbar fusions between 1959 and 1969 is reported. The method used in this series was an inlay bone graft pointed at each end and beveled at its cephalic portion to permit easier insertion. The sacroiliac ligaments are not disturbed while obtaining the bone graft and no sacroiliac complications have occurred. The necessity for determining whether any psychophysiologic symptoms exist before a spinal fusion is emphasized. This study found the inlay facet technic of spinal fusion to be a worthwhile procedure in properly selected cases of low back and leg pain.