Interaction of allogeneic demineralized bone matrix and porous hydroxyapatite bioceramics in lumbar interbody fusion in rabbits.

Bone repair by autograft is effective in clinical practice. However, serious problems arise when a considerable volume of transplant is needed, as with spinal fusion procedures. The use of bone substitutes combined with osteoinductive agents may contribute to the solution of such problems. In this study, the effectiveness of such a procedure was tested in an experimental model of interbody fusion in rabbits in which the incorporation of a porous hydroxyapatite block (HA) was enhanced by the addition of allogeneic demineralized bone matrix (DBM). The latter was used as a delivery system for the osteoinductive activity of the bone morphogenetic protein contained in the matrix. A group implanted with combined HA + DBM showed significantly earlier stabilization of the fusion when compared to groups implanted with DBM alone, HA alone, and bone autografts. On the other hand, the general results of the fusion with HA + DBM were superimposable on those of autografts. With further research, the combination of a bone substitute and an osteoinductive agent may constitute an alternative to the use of bone autografts.