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Novel bone graft substitute supports high fusion rate of lumbar spine
The use of the bone graft substitute i-Factor is useful in the treatment of patients who undergo anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedures for degenerative pathologies of the lumbar spine, according to recently published data.
In the consecutive, single-surgeon prospective study, the researchers studied 110 patients with degenerative spinal disease who underwent single-level or multilevel anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgery using the i-Factor (Cerapedics; Westminster, Colo.) bone graft substitute. The bone graft substitute is an anorganic bone matrix with P-15 small peptide. Follow-up ranged from 15 months to 43 months.
At 24-month follow-up, the researchers found patients showed an overall 92.7% fusion rate with use of the bone graft substitute. Of the patients who underwent single-, double- and multiple-level surgery, 97.5%, 81% and 100% of the patients, respectively, showed fusion at all the treated levels.
Patients exhibited a statistically significant improvement in Oswestry Disability Index, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, and VAS scores, according to study results.
The researchers concluded that patients undergoing ALIF surgery and receiving bone graft substitute had statistically improved health outcomes and less complications when compared with patients in the literature who underwent the same procedure using autograft or bone morphogenetic proteins.
Disclosure: Mobbs received clinical or research support for the study from Cerapedics.