Six-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial of i-FACTOR Peptide-Enhanced Bone Graft Versus Local Autograft in Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

BACKGROUND: Previous analyses of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption study demonstrated the superiority of i-FACTOR compared with local autograft bone in single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at 12 and 24 months postoperatively in a composite end point of overall success. OBJECTIVE: To report the final, 6-year clinical and radiological outcomes of the FDA postapproval study. METHODS: Of the original 319 subjects enrolled in the Investigational Device Exemption study, 220 participated in the postapproval study (106 i-FACTOR and 114 control). RESULTS: The study met statistical noninferiority success for all 4 coprimary end points. Radiographic fusion was achieved in 99% (103/104) and 98.2% (109/111) in i-FACTOR and local autograft subjects, mean Neck Disability Index improvement from baseline was 28.6 (24.8, 32.3) in the i-FACTOR and 29.2 (25.6, 32.9) in the control group, respectively (noninferiority P < .0001). The neurological success rate at 6 years was 95.9% (70/73) in i-FACTOR subjects and 93.7% (70/75) in local autograft subjects (noninferiority P < .0001). Safety outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. Secondary surgery on the same or different cervical levels occurred in 20/106 (18.9%) i-FACTOR subjects and 23/114 (20.2%) local autograft subjects ( P = .866). Secondary outcomes (pain, SF-36 physical component score and mental component score) in i-FACTOR subjects were similar to those in local autograft subjects. CONCLUSION: i-FACTOR met all 4 FDA-mandated noninferiority success criteria and demonstrated safety and efficacy in single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical radiculopathy through 6 years postoperatively. Safety outcomes are acceptable, and the clinical and functional outcomes observed at 12 and 24 months remained at 72 months.