• Nan-Fu Chen, Zachary A Smith, Eric Stiner, Sean Armin, Hormoz Sheikh, and Larry T Khoo.
• Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Kaohsiung General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
• J Neurosurg Spine. 2010 Jan 1;12(1):40-6.

ObjectRecombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been approved for use in the lumbar spine in conjunction with the lumbar tapered cage. However, off-label use of this osteoinductive agent is observed with anterior fusion applications as well as with both posterior lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Complications using rhBMP-2 in the cervical spine have been reported. Although radiographic evidence of ectopic bone in the lumbar spine has been described following rhBMP-2 use, this finding was not previously believed to be of clinical relevance.MethodsThis study was a retrospective review of 4 patients who underwent minimally invasive spinal TLIF (MIS-TLIF) in which bone fusion was augmented with rhBMP-2 applied to an absorbable collagen sponge. Case presentations, operative findings, imaging data, and follow-up findings were reviewed.ResultsFour cases with delayed symptomatic neural compression following the off-label use of rhBMP-2 with MIS-TLIF were identified.ConclusionsAlthough previously believed to be only a radiographic finding, the development of ectopic bone following rhBMP-2 use in lumbar fusion can be clinically significant. This paper describes 4 cases of delayed neural compression following MIS-TLIF. The reader should be aware of this potential complication following the off-label use of rhBMP-2 in the lumbar spine.

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