Fracture dislocation of the cervical spine. Value of anterior approach with bovine bone interbody fusion.

Twenty surgically treated cases of fracture dislocation of the cervical spine are presented. All patients had hyperflexion injuries with associated rupture of the intervertebral disc. All patients were operated on through an anterior surgical approach. Ten consecutive patients had interbody fusion with autogenous bone and ten consecutive patients were fused anteriorly with bovine (Kiel) bone. All patients' injuries fused satisfactorily. There was no significant difference between the use of autogenous bone and bovine bone.