STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive case series. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pseudarthrosis rate in a large series of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) augmented multilevel (> or =3 levels) anterior cervical fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The reported pseudarthrosis rate following anterior cervical fusion varies from 0% to 20% for single-level and up to 50% for multilevel fusions. It has been postulated that the use of rhBMP-2 may decrease the pseudarthrosis rate. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients with cervical spondylosis and/or disc herniation who underwent anterior cervical fusion with rhBMP-2, structural allograft, and plate fixation with a minimum 2-year follow-up were analyzed by experienced, independent spine surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (54 men and 73 women with mean age of 54 +/- 10 years [range, 32-79]) were examined. Seventy-five (59.1%) patients underwent a 3-level fusion, 34 (26.7%) underwent a 4-level fusion, and 18 (14.2%) underwent a 5-level fusion. Of the 451 fusion segments, 14 segments (3.1%) in 13 of 127 patients (10.2%) had evidence of pseudarthrosis at 6 months following surgery. Of the 13 patients with a pseudarthrosis, 3 had a 3-level fusion (3/75 patients [4.0%]), 6 had a 4-level fusion (6/34 patients [17.4%]), and 4 had a 5-level fusion (4/18 patients [22.2%]). Five patients were asymptomatic and were not revised, but the remaining 8 patients required additional surgery. In 12 of 13 patients with a pseudarthrosis, the nonunion occurred at the lowest fusion level and at the cervicothoracic junction. The only statistically significant risk factor for developing a pseudarthrosis was the number of fusion levels. CONCLUSION: In a large series of rhBMP-2 augmented multilevel fusions, the pseudarthrosis rate was 10.2% at 6 months following surgery. Since the risk of pseudarthrosis increases with the number of fusion levels, a long fusion lever arm may biomechanically overwhelm the biologic advantage of rhBMP-2. While rhBMP-2 is known to enhance fusion rates, it does not guarantee fusion in all situations.
STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive case series. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pseudarthrosis rate in a large series of recombinant humanbone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) augmented multilevel (> or =3 levels) anterior cervical fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The reported pseudarthrosis rate following anterior cervical fusion varies from 0% to 20% for single-level and up to 50% for multilevel fusions. It has been postulated that the use of rhBMP-2 may decrease the pseudarthrosis rate. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients with cervical spondylosis and/or disc herniation who underwent anterior cervical fusion with rhBMP-2, structural allograft, and plate fixation with a minimum 2-year follow-up were analyzed by experienced, independent spine surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (54 men and 73 women with mean age of 54 +/- 10 years [range, 32-79]) were examined. Seventy-five (59.1%) patients underwent a 3-level fusion, 34 (26.7%) underwent a 4-level fusion, and 18 (14.2%) underwent a 5-level fusion. Of the 451 fusion segments, 14 segments (3.1%) in 13 of 127 patients (10.2%) had evidence of pseudarthrosis at 6 months following surgery. Of the 13 patients with a pseudarthrosis, 3 had a 3-level fusion (3/75 patients [4.0%]), 6 had a 4-level fusion (6/34 patients [17.4%]), and 4 had a 5-level fusion (4/18 patients [22.2%]). Five patients were asymptomatic and were not revised, but the remaining 8 patients required additional surgery. In 12 of 13 patients with a pseudarthrosis, the nonunion occurred at the lowest fusion level and at the cervicothoracic junction. The only statistically significant risk factor for developing a pseudarthrosis was the number of fusion levels. CONCLUSION: In a large series of rhBMP-2 augmented multilevel fusions, the pseudarthrosis rate was 10.2% at 6 months following surgery. Since the risk of pseudarthrosis increases with the number of fusion levels, a long fusion lever arm may biomechanically overwhelm the biologic advantage of rhBMP-2. While rhBMP-2 is known to enhance fusion rates, it does not guarantee fusion in all situations.
Authors: Dorothee R Fischer; K Zweifel; V Treyer; R Hesselmann; A Johayem; K D M Stumpe; G K von Schulthess; T F Hany; K Strobel Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2010-12-03 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Ankur S Narain; Fady Y Hijji; Brittany E Haws; Benjamin Khechen; Krishna T Kudaravalli; Kelly H Yom; Kern Singh Journal: Int J Spine Surg Date: 2020-06-30
Authors: Heiko Koller; Wolfgang Hitzl; Frank Acosta; Mark Tauber; Juliane Zenner; Herbert Resch; Yasutsugu Yukawa; Oliver Meier; Rene Schmidt; Michael Mayer Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2009-07-03 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Victor M Lu; Lucy Zhang; Daniel B Scherman; Prashanth J Rao; Ralph J Mobbs; Kevin Phan Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2016-09-27 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Philip K Louie; Andrew C Sexton; Danel D Bohl; Ehsan Tabaraee; Steven M Presciutti; Benjamin C Mayo; Justin C Paul; Comron Saifi; Howard S An Journal: Neurospine Date: 2019-04-12