Abstract:[Objective] To compare the effects of bone autograft composited with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh- BMP-2) versus bone autograft only on posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) . [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 75 pa- tients who underwent PLIF for degenerative lumbar diseases in our department from January 2015 to August 2019. According to preopera- tive doctor-patient communication, 43 patients had PLIF performed with rhBMP-2 used (the BMP group) , while the remaining 32 patients were with bone autograft only (the BA group) . The perioperative, follow-up and imaging data of the two groups were compared. [Results] All patients in both groups were operated on successfully without serious complications. There was no significant difference in the time to resume full weight-bearing activity between the two groups (P>0.05) . As time went during followed up lasted for (13.87±1.30) months, VAS, ODI and JOA scores in both groups significantly improved (P<0.05) . At 6 months postoperatively, the BMP group proved significantly superior to the BA group in JOA score (P<0.05) . Radiographically, the height of intervertebral space showed significant curve-like changes (P<0.05) ; the Lenke grade for interbody fusion significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05) ; whereas cage subsidence in term of Marchi’s criteria slightly increased in both groups regardless of no statistically significant differences among time points (P>0.05) . At 3 months and 6 months the BMP group was significantly superior to the BA group in term of the height of intervertebral space (P<0.05) . At 6 months and the last follow-up, the BMP group was significantly superior to the BA group in term of the Lenke grade of fusion (P<0.05) , additionally, the former proved significantly superior to the latter in Marchi’s scale for cage subsidence at the last follow-up (P<0.05) . [Conclusion] Bone autograft composited with rhBMP-2 does effectively reduce interbody non-fusion and cage subsidence in PLIF, and improve its clini- cal efficacy.