Benefits and associated risks of using allograft, autograft and synthetic bone fusion material for patients and service providers - A Systematic Review.

Review Questions/Objectives: Review objective: The review objective is to determine the benefits and associated risks of using autograft, allograft and synthetic bone fusion material for patients and service providers relating to spinal fusion. Review questions are: • What are the benefits to patients relating to the use of autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material when undergoing spinal fusion? • What are the associated risks to patients relating to the use of autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material when undergoing spinal fusion? • What are the benefits to service providers relating to the use of autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material when undergoing spinal fusion? • What are the associated risks to service providers relating to the use of autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material when undergoing spinal fusion? Inclusion Criteria: Types of participants: The review will consider studies that include adult (16 and over) patients who have undergone a spinal fusion procedure, for any reason, using autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material and service providers for spinal fusion procedure. Types of interventions: Spinal fusion procedure, for any reason, using autograft, allograft or synthetic bone fusion material for adult (16 and over) patients. Types of outcomes: Benefits to patients, benefits to service providers, associated risks to patients, associated risks to service providers, such as but not limited to (measured using all the methods, instruments, scales used/specified by authors of primary research studies): • Length of hospitalisation post operatively • Postoperative pain • Patient mobility • Post operative infection • Quality of Life / Functional ability • Treatment satisfaction.