Using the bone morphogenetic protein rhBMP-2 in the disc space for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion led to a 97.9 percent fusion rate, according to a study in Clinical Spine Surgery.
Five things to know:
1. The study included a total of 688 patients who underwent MIS TLIF between 2004 and 2014. A medium rhBMP-2 kit was utilized in 97 patients, and a small kit was used in 591 patients.
2. Patients had a nine- to 12-month postoperative CT scan to evaluate for bony fusion and continued follow-up for 18 months.
3. The 97.9 percent fusion rate did not differ between the medium and small kit groups.
4. Five patients were taken back to the operating room for symptomatic pseudoarthrosis, four were reoperated on for bony hyperostosis, and there were 10 radiographic pseudoarthroses that did not require reoperation.
5. The development of foraminal hyperostosis affected 0.6 percent of patients, and the study authors conclude that this appeared to be a dose-related complication, as it was eliminated when a lower rhBMP-2 dose was utilized.