Figure 5.

Micro-computed tomography images of operative lumbar intervertebral spaces in the 3 different procedures at 12 months post-operatively: (A) discectomy only space (control group); (B) discectomy with autologous bone implanted space (autograft group); and (C) discectomy with porous tantalum implanted space (tantalum group). Both autograft and tantalum groups developed solid fusion with continuous bony bridge from the cranial to the caudal vertebra, while non-fusion was observed in control group. (D) The imaging fusion index scores at different post-operative time points.