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Review
. 2016 Mar;2(1):9-12.
doi: 10.21037/jss.2016.01.06.

Bone morphogenetic protein in pediatric spine fusion surgery

Robert W Molinari  1 , Christine Kerr  1 , Danielle Kerr  1
Affiliations
Review

Bone morphogenetic protein in pediatric spine fusion surgery

Robert W Molinari et al. J Spine Surg. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Pediatric; bone morphogenetic protein (BMP); spine fusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Long-term followup lateral X-ray showing solid BMP posterior fusion in a 9-year-old boy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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