The effect of local steroid application on bony fusion in a rat posterolateral spinal arthrodesis model.

Local steroid application does not seem to inhibit rhBMP-2-mediated spine fusion in rats, though our study may not be adequately powered to detect differences in fusion as measured by manual palpation or bone volume as measured by micro-CT. These findings suggest that local triamcinolone may not increase pseudarthrosis in spine fusion procedures. Further large animal and clinical studies to verify its safety and efficacy are warranted.