Use of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 to Achieve Posterolateral Lumbar Spine Fusion in Humans

Study Design. A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted. Objective. To determine whether the dose and carrier that were successful in rhesus monkeys could induce consistent radiographic spine fusion in humans. Summary of Background Data. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), an osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein, is successful at generating spine fusion in rabbits and rhesus monkeys. Methods. For this study, 25 patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis were randomized (1:2:2 ratio) based on the arthrodesis technique: autograft/Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) pedicle screw instrumentation (n = 5), rhBMP-2/TSRH (n = 11), and…