Lascombes P, Grosdidier G, Olry R, Thomas C
Département d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine de Nancy, Vandoeuvre, France.
Surg Radiol Anat. 1991;13(4):259-63. doi: 10.1007/BF01627753.
The rib is frequently used as a bone graft in the surgery of the anterior spine. The advantage of the rib is that it is easily used as a pediculated vascularized graft when it is transferred to the anterior vertebrae. The average length of the pedicle is over 5 cm for the ribs number 3 to 10. Their useful length of bone is 12 cm. With this technique fusion of 4 to 6 lumbar or thoracic vertebrae is possible.