A new article published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examine complications for patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.
The study included 131 patients who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed by a single surgeon. The patients received PEEK cages filled with rhBMP-2 and a separate titanium plate. Around half, 51.1 percent, of the patients were male and most patients underwent ALIF at L5-S1. There were nine patients who underwent the procedure at L4-5 and five who underwent the surgery at both L4-5 and L5-S1.
Here are five key findings from the study:
1. The overall complication rate was 19.1 percent; 13 percent had minor complications and 6 percent had major complications.
2. Estimated blood loss per ALIF level was 115 mL on average.
3. Only one instance of retrograde ejaculation was reported. There were no significant vascular injuries or prosthesis failures with the PEEK cage or separate anterior screw-plate.
4. Around 57 percent of the patients reported back pain improvement; 61.8 percent reported improved leg pain.
5. The Oswestry Disability Index improved 54.3 percent. The Physical and Mental Component Summary scores improved 41.7 percent and 21.3 percent respectively.
6. There was solid interbody fusion in 96.9 percent of patients after one year.