title: Synthetic bone graft versus autograft or allograft for spinal fusion: a systematic review.
abstract: The purpose of this review was to compare the efficacy and safety of synthetic bone graft substitutes versus autograft or allograft for the treatment of lumbar and cervical spinal degenerative diseases. Multiple major medical reference databases were searched for studies that evaluated spinal fusion using synthetic bone graft substitutes (either alone or with an autograft or allograft) compared with autograft and allograft. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies with more than 10 patients were included. Radiographic fusion, patient-reported outcomes, and functional outcomes were the primary outcomes of interest. The search yielded 214 citations with 27 studies that met the inclusion criteria. For the patients with lumbar spinal degenerative disease, data from 19 comparative studies were included: 3 RCTs, 12 prospective, and 4 retrospective studies. Hydroxyapatite (HA), HA+collagen, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), calcium sulfate, or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were used. Overall, there were no differences between the treatment groups in terms of fusion, functional outcomes, or complications, except in 1 study that found higher rates of HA graft absorption. For the patients with cervical degenerative conditions, data from 8 comparative studies were included: 4 RCTs and 4 cohort studies (1 prospective and 3 retrospective studies). Synthetic grafts included HA, β-TCP/HA, PMMA, and biocompatible osteoconductive polymer (BOP). The PMMA and BOP grafts led to lower fusion rates, and PMMA, HA, and BOP had greater risks of graft fragmentation, settling, and instrumentation problems compared with iliac crest bone graft. The overall quality of evidence evaluating the potential use and superiority of the synthetic biological materials for lumbar and cervical fusion in this systematic review was low or insufficient, largely due to the high potential for bias and small sample sizes. Thus, definitive conclusions or recommendations regarding the use of these synthetic materials should be made cautiously and within the context of the limitations of the evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Buser
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Darrel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brodke
authors.affiliation: Spine Colorado, Durango, Colorado.
authors.forename: Jim A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Bergmannstrost Hospital, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Joerg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.affiliation: Spine Colorado, Durango, Colorado.
authors.forename: Sue Lynn
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Myhre
authors.affiliation: Spectrum Research, Inc., Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Uijongbu, Korea; and.
authors.forename: Jong-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Emory Spine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tim Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts / Q000637:transplantation*; D064592:Autografts / Q000637:transplantation*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes
keywords: ACDF = anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; AHRQ = Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; BM = bone marrow; BOP = biocompatible osteoconductive polymer; HA = hydroxyapatite; ICBG = iliac crest bone graft; LB = local bone; PMMA = polymethylmethacrylate; RCT = randomized controlled trial; VAS = visual analog scale; cervical; fusion; lumbar; randomized control trials; synthetic graft; systematic review; technique; β-TCP = β-tricalcium phosphate