RT Journal
A1 Rihn, Jeffrey A.
A1 Albert, Todd J.
T1 The Use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein in Lumbar Spine Surgery
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2009
FD August 1
VO 91
IS 8
SP 2046
OP 2047
DO 
UL http://dx.doi.org/
AB 
It is clear from their comments that Dr. Smoljanovic and colleagues have given this topic substantial consideration, particularly regarding vertebral osteolysis following the use of rhBMP-2 for interbody fusion. We recognize the point that the authors made in a previous letter to the Editor in Spine1 regarding the findings of Burkus et al.2. In that letter1, the authors identified a figure from the paper by Burkus et al.2 in which there appears to be vertebral osteolysis at six months postoperatively that had gone unreported. The findings that we presented in our article, however, were based on the original, peer-reviewed publications by Burkus et al.2-4. The writing of our paper predates the publication of the previous letter to the Editor by Dr. Smoljanovic as well as many of the references cited in the current letter, two of which are still in press. We realize that additional information regarding the use of BMP in lumbar fusion surgery is available since the writing of our paper.