Diário da Espinha

Clinical Evaluation of Allogeneic Growth Factor in Cervical Spine Fusion

Abstract

Justin Field, Christopher Yeung and Jeffrey Roh

Background: The initial success of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs) in lumbar spine surgery led to its use outside the initial indication. As complications from the use of rhBMP-2 in cervical spine surgery continued to rise, the need for a safer alternative was evident. The discovery of a new allogeneic tissue processing technique has provided a way to access growth factors naturally found within bone marrow cells. This evaluation was undertaken to assess the clinical outcomes associated with the use of allogeneic morphogenetic protein in cervical spine fusion.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of one hundred and forty consecutive patients (228 levels) that underwent cervical spine fusions between C3 and T3. Patients received radiographs (x-ray and/or CT) at standard post-operative follow-up timepoints, which were generally at three, six, twelve and eighteen months post-surgical intervention. Fusion was defined as any radiographic evidence of bridging across endplates, or bridging from endplates to interspace disc plugs.

Results: Eighty percent (80%) of patients had evidence of fusions at 6 months, ninety-eight percent (98%) of patients had evidence of fusions at 12 months, and one hundred percent (100%) of patients had evidence of fusions at 18 months.

Conclusions: High fusion rate results in this report demonstrate the benefits of using an array of growth factors in cervical spine surgery and support allogeneic morphogenetic protein as a possible alternative option to rhBMP-2