Clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterolateral lumbar spine fusion in humans using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2: an average five-year follow-up study.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) can be used as the sole stimulator of osteogenesis with success equal to an autologous graft in posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) at the same level and to describe the progress until bone union. This study included 11 patients who underwent PLF of L4-5. On the right side, only rhBMP-2, for which polylactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) was used as a carrier, was used, whereas, on the left side, autogenous bone was used. The bone union rate was 73 and 82% at 12 and 24 months after surgery, respectively, on the right BMP side, while the rate on the autogenous bone side was 91%. There was no statistically significant difference in the bone union rate. rhBMP-2 can be used as the sole source of osteogenesis with success equivalent to an autologous graft of the PLF.