The synergistic effect of autograft and BMP-7 in the treatment of atrophic nonunions.
Combining autologous bone graft and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) to treat long-bone fracture aseptic atrophic nonunions theoretically could promote bone healing at higher rates than each of these grafting agents separately. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on patient general characteristics, clinical outcomes, and complications over 3 years to determine the healing rates and the incidence of complications and adverse events of this "graft expansion rationale." There were 45 patients (32 male) with a median age of 43 years (range, 19-76 years). Minimum followup was 12 months (mean, 24.5 months; range, 12-65 months). There were seven humeral, 19 femoral, and 19 tibial nonunions. The median number of prior operations was two (range, 1-7). All fractures united. Clinical and radiographic union occurred within a median of 5 months (range, 3-14 months) and 6 months (range, 4-16 months), respectively. Thirty-nine (87%) patients returned to their preinjury occupation at a mean of 4.2 months (range, 3-6 months). The median visual analog scale pain score was 0.9 (range, 0-2.8; maximum 10), and the median functional score was 86 (range, 67-95; maximum 100) at the final followup. BMP-7 as a bone-stimulating agent combined with conventional autograft resulted in a nonunion healing rate of 100% in these 45 patients.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Giannoudis
Peter V
PV
Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Leeds General Infirmary, Clarendon Wing, Level A, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK. pgiannoudi@aol.com
Kanakaris
Nikolaos K
NK
Dimitriou
Rozalia
R
Gill
Ian
I
Kolimarala
Vinod
V
Montgomery
Richard J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D024042:Collagen Type I; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins