Neurosurgery
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Spinal arthrodesis is a major element of the spinal surgeon's practice. To attain successful fusion rates, attention must be paid to spinal segment immobilization and proper selection of bone graft. ⋯ While many bone graft alternatives function well as bone graft extenders, only growth factors proteins (ie, rhBMP-2 or OP-2) function as bone graft enhancers and substitutes. The search for optimal hybrid interbody cages, bone graft substitutes, autogenous or allogenic stem cells, and nanostructure scaffolds for release of growth factors continues.