Authors' recommendations: Based on the available evidence, rhBMP-7 appears to produce similar results as autogenous bone graft in healing long bone fractures and may have a lower risk of osteomyelitis. Thus, rhBMP-7 may provide an alternative to autogenous bone graft in long bone fracture healing, particularly when autogenous bone graft fails to correct nonunion. Given that rhBMP-7 was not superior to autogenous bone graft for many outcomes, it could be premature to consider it a replacement for autogenous bone graft. Further, rhBMP-7 was inferior to autogenous bone graft in metaphyseal bone healing. The majority of studies were with rhBMP-7, and rhBMP-2 may provide similar results. As such, rhBMP-2 could be a reasonable alternative for nonunion of fractures and for healing acute type-III tibial fractures. Unfortunately, no guidelines were identified that could clarify the precise role of BMPs in fracture healing. The use of BMPs in fracture healing can potentially avoid the morbidity and costs associated with harvesting bone for autogenous bone grafts. As such, the cost-effectiveness of rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-7 may also be an important consideration in policy decisions about their adoption.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/L0107_Morphogenetic_Bone_final.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)