In 10 cases a vascular is ed rib graft was used to bridge a kyphotic segment of the spine, as described by Rose in 1975 and Bradford in 1989. This technique was used in view of the better and faster consolidation of the vascularised graft opposed to the non-vascularised grafting techniques.

There were 6 posttraumatic cases, one spinal metastasis, two patients with a spondylitis ankylopoeitica among one with a pseudo-arthrosis, and one spina bifida kyphosis. In 6 cases there was a good and radip consolidation, without the occurrence of stress fracture. In one case in which the bloodflow in the graft was in doubt, there was a progressive loss of kyphosis correction and a late screw breakage of the anterior fixation device. In a recent case the outcome is not yet established, because there was a luxation of the ribgraft.

In the 4 last cases bone-scans were done after the operation. Uptake of the technetium was not visualised directly postoperative, but was progressively seen after three and six months.

The clinical course of these patients however was favourable with apparent hypertrophy of the graft in several cases. Follow-up range is from 3 months to six years.

Keywords: Kyphosis, anterior strutgraft, viable ribgraft, intercostal vascular pedicle.