Lumbar interbody fusion after treatment with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 added to poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) bioresorbable implants.

Object. To evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) combined with a bioresorbable implant, the authors conducted a prospective study of 43 patients with degenerative lumbar disc disease who underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Methods. The authors used Infuse bone graft, which consisted of rhBMP-2 applied to an absorbable collagen sponge and contained within a HYDROSORB Telamon bioresorbable implant to perform the fusion. Multilevel fusions were performed in 30% of the 43 patients, for a total of 57 levels. At 6 months postoperatively, x-ray films and computerized tomography (CT) scans demonstrated solid fusion in 98% of 41 patients. Improvement from the baseline Oswestry Disability Rating was demonstrated at 6 months postoperatively in 68% of the patients, based on the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. At 12 months all 11 patients in whom CT scans were obtained showed complete bridging of bone; there were no device-related complications. Conclusions. Results in this series provide evidence of the feasibility of using HYDROSORB Telamon bioresorbable spacers in combination with Infuse bone graft for lumbar spine fusion.