The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published an article examining recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein use in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures.
There have been studies suggesting rhBMP use in ACDF could be associated with complications. To further examine the issue, study authors analyzed the MarketScan database from 2006 to 2010 for patients who underwent ACDF with and without cervical corpectomy. There were 91,543 patients identified for the study, with 3,197 patients treated with rhBMP intraoperatively.
Here are five findings from the study:
1. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein use was associated with increased complication risk in propensity score-adjusted models.
2. Specific complication risk with rhBMP-2 included:
• Hematoma or seroma
• Dysphagia
• Pulmonary complication
These complications occurred within 30 days after surgery.
3. However, there were no significant differences in hospital readmission rates, in-hospital mortality, pain management referral, new malignancy or reoperation between patients who received rhBMP-2 and those who didn't.
4. The rhBMP-2 use was associated with a 19 percent increase in total payments to the hospital and primary physician. The total payments were $5,545 more for patients undergoing rhBMP-2 procedures on average.
5. Broken down, rhBMP-2 use was associated with $311 greater payments to surgeons and $4,213 greater payments to hospitals.