Allogenic Growth Factor, rhBMP-2 Can Improve Fusion for Posterolateral Spinal Fusion

Fusion rates improved when allogenic growth factor or bone morphogenetic protein-2 were used with or without bone marrow aspirate for posterolateral spinal fusions to treat single- and multi-level deformity cases, according to study findings.

Investigators from various institutions in Illinois, Arizona and WashingtonState retrospectively reviewed data from a multicenter study of 302 patients who received either OsteoAMP, an allogenic growth factor, with or without bone marrow aspirate (BMA) or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) with or without the allogenic growth factor in order to achieve posterolateral arthrodesis with autologous bone, when available.

The study included 146 patients who received growth factor with BMA, 81 who received growth factor without BMA, 50 who received rhBMP-2 alone and 25 who received rhBMP-2 with allogeneic growth factor. Patients were evaluated for fusion at three, six, 12, 18 and 24 months.

At 12 months, the growth factor non-BMA group had a fusion rate of 35 percent and the OsteoAMP augmented rhBMP-2 group had a fusion rate of 33 percent. The growth factor non-BMA group exceeded fusion rates of 98 percent at 24 months, whereas the OsteoAMP-augmented rhBMP-2 cohorts had a fusion rate of 100 percent. Patients who received rhBMP-2 alone had fusion rates of 14 percent at 12 months and 33 percent at 24 months, according to the investigators.

Investigators concluded allogenic growth factor appeared to offer a viable option for helping with the development of posterolateral spinal arthrodesis.