Bone Morphogenic Protein

Bone Morphogenic Protein Surgery Information Sheet

BMP's are special bone proteins made in the laboratory to enhance the fusion or healing of bone. These bone proteins are the same as those obtained from bone marrow.

Advantages of BMP's are:

• Speed up and improve the healing of bone
• Avoid a separate hip incision to obtain iliac crest bone graft
• Reduce length of hospital stay
• Reduce postoperative pain

Disadvantages of BMP's are:

• Cost - approximate $4000 - $6000, but fully covered by your private health insurance company, workcover or Transport Accident Commission
• Excessive calcification - rare. BMP's can spread when placed at the sides of the spine and cause fusion at adjacent spine levels.
• Osteolysis - rare. BMP's can cause "holes" in the bone if used in too high a dose in the disc space. These "holes" usually repair in a few months.