A new study published in The Spine Journal compares rhBMP-2 with autograft for spinal fusion.
The study authors examined 191 patients who underwent anterior-posterior instrumented spinal fusion with transformational lumbar interbody fusion at an academic institution. There were 83 patients who received BMP and 104 patients who received autograft. Study authors found:
1. The fusion rate in both groups was similar; 92.7 percent of the BMP patients and 92.3 percent of the non-BMP patients reported fusion. The BMP group had fewer smokers and a shorter follow-up time.
2. Overall pseudarthrosis rate was 7.5 percent and seven patients in the BMP group reported radiculitis, compared with two patients in the non-BMP group.
3. Two patients in the BMP group developed Seroma during the study period, compared to none in the non-BMP group.
4. One patient in the non-BMP group reported a deep infection, compared to no patients in the BMP group.
5. BMP patients were at greater risk of developing radiculitis and seroma, but BMP wasn't a significant predictor of the surgical complications, according to the study. "Evidence supports the hypothesis that off-label use of rhBMP-2 in TLIF procedures is relatively effective for achieving bone fusion at rates similar to patients receiving autograft," concluded the study authors.