The use of bone morphogenetic protein 7 in fracture non-unions.

Abstract

To assess the rate of clinical and radiological union with the use of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) in a range of fractures. This case series retrospectively reviews a series of 16 fracture non-unions in 13 patients. These patients were treated with the commercially available BMP-7. Time to radiological and clinical union was assessed by serial out-patient follow-up. At nine months post-surgery in which BMP-7 was added, 12 of 16 non-unions had achieved clinical and radiographic union. Three patients required repeat grafting. The mean time to union was 5.1 ± 1.6 months after the application of BMP-7. The use of the osteo-inductive agent, BMP-7 results in good clinical and radiological outcomes which are not restricted to tibial non-unions. © 2011 Tianjin Hospital and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.