A new study published in The Spine Journal examines the recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 use in spinal fusions for degenerative disc disease through 2012.
The authors examined data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2012, noting major safety concerns that emerged in 2008. The study includes adults over 20 years old who underwent elective fusion operations for degenerative diagnoses. Grants funded the study without investigator conflict of interest.
Here are five findings from the study:
1. BMP use in spinal fusion increased rapidly until 2008.
2. By 2008, BMP was used in 45.2 percent of lumbar fusions and 13.5 percent of cervical fusions.
3. BMP use decreased significantly after the FDA Public Health Notification was released in 2008. There were also concerns about financial payments to surgeons who contributed to the FDA approval trials, which further stymied growth.
4. Lumbar spinal fusions showed:
• Average annual growth at 7.9 percentage points from 2002 to 2008
• Average annual decrease at 11.7 percentage points after 2008
5. Cervical fusions showed:
• Average annual growth at 2 percentage points from 2002 to 2008
• Average annual decrease of 2.8 percentage points after 2008