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Bone morphogenetic protein in pediatric spine fusion surgery
Robert W Molinari1, Christine Kerr1, Danielle Kerr1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
Background:
There is a paucity of literature describing the use of bone graft substitutes to achieve fusion in the pediatric spine. Outcomes and complications involving the off-label use of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) in the pediatric spine are not clearly defined. The purpose of this study is to review the existing literature with respect to reported outcomes and complications involving the use of low-dose BMP-2 in pediatric patients.
Methods:
A Medline and PubMed literature search was conducted using the words bone morphogenetic protein, BMP, rh-BMP-2, bone graft substitutes, and pediatric spine.
Results:
To date, there are few published reports on this topic. Complications and appropriate BMP-2 dosage application in the pediatric spine remain unknown.
Conclusions:
This report describes the potential for BMP-2 to achieve successful arthrodesis of the spine in pediatric patients. Usage should be judicious as complications and long-term outcomes of pediatric BMP-2 usage remain undefined in the existing literature.
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