A comprehensive clinical review of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (INFUSE® Bone Graft)

The combination of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) carrier has been shown to induce bone formation in a number of preclinical and clinical investigations. In 2002, rhBMP-2/ACS at a 1.5-mg/cc concentration (INFUSE (R) Bone Graft, Medtronic Spinal and Biologics, Memphis, TN) was FDA-approved as an autograft replacement for certain interbody spinal fusion procedures. In 2004, INFUSE (R) Bone Graft was approved for open tibial fractures with an intermedullary (IM) nail fixation. Most recently, in March 2007, INFUSE (R) Bone Graft was approved as an alternative to autogenous bone grafts for sinus augmentations, and for localised alveolar ridge augmentations for defects associated with extraction sockets. The culmination of extensive preclinical and clinical research and three FDA approvals makes rhBMP-2 one of the most studied, published and significant advances in orthopaedics. This review article summarises a number of clinical findings of rhBMP-2/ACS, including the FDA-approved investigational device exemption (IDE) studies used in gaining the aforementioned approvals.