Prospective Comparison of Commercially Available Demineralized Bone Matrix for Spinal Fusion

INTRODUCTION: Demineralized bone matrix derived from human tissues has demonstrated the ability to aid in the stimulation of an osteoinductive response allowing for improved bone growth and fusion. In an effort to augment the available grafting material as well as increase fusion rates, the utilization of a demineralized bone matrix (DBM) as a graft extender or even as a graft substitute has become commonplace. A variety of human DBM composites are commercially available, but no comparative studies exist examining their relative effectiveness in spinal fusion. The athymic rat offers a unique animal model with the advantage of a non-immunogenic environment for in vivo evaluation of fusion. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteoinductive ability between three commercially available human DBMs to heal a spinal fusion.