OVERVIEW OF BONE GRAFTING OPTIONS BONE GRAFTING (Spine and Orthopaedic)

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT BONE GRAFTING OPTIONS?

Bone grafts help heal bone by creating new bone. There are many bone graft technologies that can help achieve this—and substantial differences among them. They work differently, they are made from different materials, and their approved uses vary widely.

Common options for bone grafting include:

• Autograft Tissue
• Allograft Tissue
• Synthetic Bone Graft

Autograft Tissue

Autograft tissue is taken surgically from one part of the body and transplanted to another part of the same body.

Benefits:

• No potential for immune reaction or disease transmission
• Well-documented success
• May heal large or small defects by itself
• Transplanting a person's own bone forming cells can help heal the defect

Drawbacks:

• Risk of pain and/or infection at harvest site which may last for a long time
• Additional surgery and anaesthesia are required
• May not be an option for some patients

Allograft Tissue

Allograft tissue is generously donated by the family of a deceased loved one to enhance the life of another individual.

Benefits:

• Well-documented success
• May heal small defects by itself
• Avoids the need for additional bone harvesting surgery
• Demineralised allografts contain active proteins that stimulate the body’s cells to form bone

Drawbacks:

• Minimal risk for disease transmission
• Limited in its ability to heal large defects by itself

Synthetic Bone Graft

These artificially produced materials bulk up or extend the supply of available autograft bone (bone harvested from person's own body).

Benefits:

• Readily available
• Provides a scaffold onto which bone cells can attach to form new bone
• No risk for disease transmission

Drawbacks:

• Synthetics alone do not contain proteins that stimulate the body’s cells to form bone
• Portions of the graft may remain in the body for years to come
• Limited in its ability to heal large defects by itself

BONE GRAFT SELECTION

The type of graft used will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the type of surgery being performed, age, medical history, and bone quantity/quality. A prescription is required, and a person should always consult a surgeon to understand which bone graft is right for them, as well as for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, clinical results, and other important medical information.