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Point-counter-point debate: the association between recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein utilization and complications in spine surgery

  • Spine: BMP (K Singh, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been utilized in spine surgery for over 10 years as a bone graft substitute. Potential BMP-related adverse effects including retrograde ejaculation and heterotopic neuroforaminal bone formation have been described. Additionally, some studies have suggested an association between BMP and cancer. Inconsistencies exist in the published spine literature with regards to the incidence and association of complications with BMP utilization. In a point-counterpoint format, this article discusses the current evidence concerning the relationship between the utilization of BMP in spinal fusion and the risk of cancer, retrograde ejaculation (RE), neuroforaminal bone formation, and its role in anterior cervical spine surgery and adolescents.

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References

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Conflict of Interest

Kris Siemionow, Eric Sundberg, Marcin Tyrakowski, and Sreeharsha V. Nandyala declare that they have no conflict of interest. Kern Singh has board membership with Vital 5 LLC, has been a consultant for Zimmer, Stryker, Globus, and receives royalties from Pioneer, Styker, Zimmer, and Thieme.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kris Siemionow

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St, Suite #300, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Eric Sundberg, Sreeharsha V. Nandyala & Kern Singh

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland

    Marcin Tyrakowski

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  1. Kris Siemionow
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Correspondence to Kern Singh.

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Siemionow, K., Sundberg, E., Tyrakowski, M. et al. Point-counter-point debate: the association between recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein utilization and complications in spine surgery. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 7, 200–207 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-014-9219-x

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