Evaluation of Calcium Phosphates with BMP Augmentation for Anterior Cervical Interbody Spine Fusion in a Caprine Model

Calcium phosphates are being investigated as interbody grafts for spinal fusion to avoid complications associated with autograft, allograft, and xenograft. It was previously reported that a 50% fracture rate resulted when evaluating the efficacy of 30, 50, and 70% porous 50150 HA/B-TCP to promote cervical interbody fusion in a caprine model. Undecalcified histological analysis showed a lack of graft incorporation in some peri-implant regions despite fusion in others. The specific aim of the current study was to augment two ceramics with an osteoinductive substance (Ne-Osteo) to increase graft incorporation in order to promote cervical interbody fusion in a caprine model. This study was designed to test the hypothesis: Will fusion occur and fracture of the ceramics be prevented with the osteoinductive substance loaded on the ceramics