Postoperative cervical myelopathy and cord compression associated with the use of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 in posterior cervical decompression, instrumentation, and arthrodesis: a report of two cases

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 36; no. 10; p. E682
• Main Authors: Anderson, David W, Burton, Douglas C, Jackson, R Sean
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arthrodesis - adverse effects; Arthrodesis - instrumentation; Arthrodesis - methods; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - adverse effects; Cervical Vertebrae - surgery; Decompression, Surgical - adverse effects; Decompression, Surgical - instrumentation; Decompression, Surgical - methods; Humans; Male; Postoperative Complications; Recombinant Proteins - adverse effects; Seroma - chemically induced; Seroma - complications; Seroma - surgery; Spinal Cord Compression - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Compression - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord Compression - etiology; Spinal Stenosis; Spondylosis - diagnostic imaging; Spondylosis - pathology; Spondylosis - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Transforming Growth Factor beta - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181f8f4d3

Case report. Two cases are presented in which the use of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) in a posterior cervical decompression and instrumented arthrodesis may have contributed to seroma formation and cord compression. The use of rh-BMP-2 has been proven effective in promoting bone formation in anterior lumbar spine arthrodesis. Whether rh-BMP-2 is safe and/or effective in the cervical spine has not been determined. Adverse effects when it is used for anterior cervical fusion procedures have been reported but its role in posterior cervical decompression and instrumented fusions has yet to be determined. We report on two cases. The first is a 68-year-old man presenting with a substantial decline in his neurologic status approximately 2 weeks after surgery. The second is a 44-year-old man presenting with a substantial decline in his neurologic status approximately 5 days after surgery. Both complications occurred after a posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumented arthrodesis when rh-BMP-2 was used as a bone graft substitute. Both patients were found to have a moderate-to-large seroma causing severe compression on the spinal cord and were urgently taken to an operating room for evacuation of the seromas. Both showed improvement of their neurologic status immediately after surgery. As rh-BMP-2 is known to occasionally cause seroma formation it is postulated that it may have been the cause of the seromas. Caution should be exercised with rh-BMP-2 use in posterior cervical applications when a laminectomy has been performed. The safe and effective dose and technique for application have yet to be determined. Seroma formation is possible, which can cause acute stenosis with cord compression and neurologic compromise.