Fourteen studies with a total of 1516 patients undergoing posterolateral lumbar spine fusion were included in this meta-analysis comparing iliac crest bone grafting (n=727) to bone morphogenetic protein-2 (n=789). Pooled outcomes of interest included the rate of fusion, rate of non-union, operative time, blood loss, length of stay, need for secondary surgery, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and the incidence of adverse events. Pooled results of this meta-analysis demonstrated significantly higher fusion rates, shorter operative time, lower blood loss, reduced need for secondary surgery, and better ODI scores in the bone morphogenetic protein 2 group compared to the iliac crest bone grafting group (p<0.05 for all). No significant differences in pooled non-union rate, length of stay, or adverse event rate were observed between the two groups (p>0.05 for all).