Osteogenic protein-1 (BMP-7) accelerates healing of scaphoid non-union with proximal pole sclerosis.

We randomly assigned 17 patients with scaphoid non-union at the proximal pole to three treatment groups: (1) autologous iliac graft (n=6), (2) autologous iliac graft + osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1; n=6), and (3) allogenic iliac graft + OP-1 (n=5). Radiographic, scintigraphic, and clinical assessments were performed throughout the follow-up period of 24 months. OP-1 improved the performance of both autologous and allogenic bone implants and reduced radiographic healing time to 4 weeks compared with 9 weeks in group 1. Helical CT scans and scintigraphy showed that in OP-1-treated patients sclerotic bone was replaced by well-vascularised bone. The addition of OP-1 to allogenic bone implant equalised the clinical outcome with the autologous graft procedure. Consequently the harvesting of autologous graft can be avoided.