Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in spine surgery: recommendations for use and alternative bone substitutes-a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been extensively studied in preclinical, animal, and human studies and has been used widely in spine fusion surgery. Evidence demonstrates that fusion rates with rhBMP-2 are similar to or higher than those achieved with autologous bone graft. However, there have been concerns regarding the cost, optimal dosage, and potential complications of rhBMP-2 use in spine surgery.

Long-term outcomes following lumbar total disc replacement with M6-L.

Background: The motion preserving benefits of lumbar total disc replacement (LTDR) are well established. There is a paucity of long-term follow-up data on the M6-L prosthesis. The aim was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients undergoing LTDR with M6-L and make comment about its effectiveness and durability.

Can Central Sensitization After Injury Persist as an Autonomous Pain Generator? A Comprehensive Search for Evidence.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive search for evidence with regard to whether central sensitization after an injury can act as a persistent autonomous pain generator after the inducing injury has healed.

Methods: We searched Medline on PubMed and the Cochrane Library, screening 3,572 abstracts, from which 937 full-text articles were obtained, with 186 of these discarded as irrelevant to the question being posed. The remaining 751 articles were studied for evidence.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Spinal Surgery: What Is the Fusion Rate and Do They Cause Cancer?

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the fusion rate using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) in spinal surgery and to estimate the risk of cancer subsequent to their use.

Summary Of Background Data: rhBMP may obviate the need for iliac crest bone graft harvest and provides similar or higher fusion rates than autologous bone graft.

Co-registration of isotope bone scan with CT scan and MRI in the investigation of spinal pathology.

Image fusion software enables technetium(99m)-methylene diphosphonate (Tc(99m)-MDP) bone scan images to be co-registered with CT scan or MRI, allowing greater anatomical discrimination. We examined the role of bone scan images co-registered with CT scan or MRI in the investigation of patients presenting with axial spinal pain and/or limb pain. One hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients were examined, and thereafter investigated with CT scan, MRI, and/or dynamic plain films.