OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vascular pedicled rib grafting in treatment of the pyogenic infection of the thoracolumbar intervertebral space. METHODS: From November 1993, 7 cases with pyogenic infection of the thoracolumbar intervertebral space were adopted in this study. Among them, there were 5 males and 2 females, aged from 29 to 58 years old. The position of pyogenic infection located at T10 to 11 in 3 cases, at T11 to 12 in 2 cases and at T12 to L1 in 2 cases. During operation, the pyogenic infection was cleared completely and the rib with vascular pedicle was grafted into the intervertebral space. RESULTS: Followed up for 10 to 60 months, the bone graft unioned in 3 months for 5 patients and unioned in 4 months for 2 patients. There was no recurrence and raised kyphosis. CONCLUSION: The technique of vascular pedicled rib graft is simple, it can shorten the bone union time and reconstruct the stability of spine.
