Figure 6.

Representative images of the stained undecalcified sections at 12 months post-operatively. (A) Control group: a clapse gap with fibrous tissue surrounding at the intervertebral space was observed (hematoxylin and eosin staining, ×50). (B) Autograft group: histologic fusion is demonstrated by continuous cranial to the caudal bony bridging with cartilage formation (triangle) and endochondral ossification (arrows) in the intervertebral space (hematoxylin and eosin staining, ×50). (C) Tantalum group: histologic fusion is demonstrated by continuous cranial to the caudal bony bridging with newly formed bone trabecular (arrows) ingrowth into the porous tantalum (hematoxylin and eosin staining, ×50).