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Anterior Thoracic Spinal Fusion Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 with Injection in Canine

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Abstract from the SRS 2001 Annual Meeting

Jun Takahashi, MD ¹⁾
Sohei Ebara, MD ¹⁾
Naoto Saitoh, MD ¹
Mikio Kamimura, MD ¹⁾
Tetsuya Kinoshita, MD ¹⁾
Hidehiro Itoh, MD ¹⁾
Yohei Yuzawa, MD ¹⁾
Narumichi Murakami, MD ¹⁾
Isao Nakamura, MD ¹⁾
Hiroki Hirabayashi, MD ¹⁾
Takao Okada, MS ²⁾
Kazutoshi Nozaki, PhD ³⁾
Kunio Takaoka, MD

· (a - Taki Chemical Co., Ltd. And Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co)

Matsumoto ¹⁾, Kakogawa ²⁾ and Tokyo ³⁾, Japan

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate thoracic anterior spinal fusion using rhBMP-2 administered with an injectable carrier in a canine model as a minimally invasive method.

METHODS: Twenty-seven skeletally mature beagles underwent thoracic anterior spinal fusion at T8-T9. Animals were randomized into one of three treatment groups. Group I (n=9) was injected with 1ml of polylactic acid polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG) block copolymer carrier alone (no BMP) into the anterior longitudinal ligament spaces. Group II (n=9) was injected with 1ml of PLA-PEG carrier containing 500 µg of rhBMP-2 and Group III (n=9) with 1ml of PLA-PEG carrier containing 1000 µg of rhBMP-2. Animals were sacrificed 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-operatively. The implanted sites were assessed for new bone formation and bony fusion by means of radiography (plain radiography and three-dimensional computed tomography) and histologic examination.

RESULTS: The group treated with the PLA-PEG carrier alone demonstrated complete absence of bone formation both radiographically and histologically. All of the nine anterior longitudinal ligament spaces in the group implanted with 1000µg of rhBMP-2 showed new bone formation in 12 weeks and four of the nine 500µg rhBMP-2 group showed bony mass.

CONCLUSION: Thoracic anterior spinal fusion using rhBMP-2 administered with an injectable carrier (PLA-PEG) can be expected to be a significant development in minimally invasive techniques for spinal fusion.

Updated on: 12/10/09