Analysis of prevertebral soft-tissue swelling and dysphagia in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in patients at risk for pseudarthrosis.

Object: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the incidence of fusion and soft-tissue swelling in multilevel anterior cervical discectomies and fusions (ACDFs) using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) spacers with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) impregnated in a Type I collagen sponge and titanium plates.

Methods: A single surgeon performed 30 multilevel ACDFs using PEEK spacers with an rhBMP-2 impregnated collagen sponge (0.4 ml, or the equivalent of 0.