Early findings in a pilot study of anterior cervical interbody fusion in which recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 was used with poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) bioabsorbable implants.

OBJECT The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of bioabsorbable interbody spacers in cervical spine fusion. METHODS The authors report on a prospective examination of 20 patients with degenerative cervical disc disease who underwent anterior cervical fusion at 28 total levels. The authors used Infuse bone graft (that is, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 applied to an absorbable collagen sponge and contained within a Cornerstone-HSR bioabsorbable spacer. Multiple-level fusions were performed in 30% of these patients. At 3 months postfusion, radiographs and computerized tomography scans demonstrated bridging bone in 100% of the patients. Improvement from baseline scores in physical functioning, mental health, and bodily pain was demonstrated at 3 months postoperatively according to results of the Short Form-36 Version 2 health survey. There were no device-related complications. CONCLUSIONS The results in this series indicate that the use of Cornerstone-HSR as a bioabsorbable interbody spacer in combination with Infuse bone graft may be an alternative treatment for cervical spine fusion.