With recent advances in bone graft technology, more surgeons are seeking products with enhanced properties, such as biological activity, to ensure good clinical results. Surgeons also like versatile products that can be used in combination with autograft or bone marrow aspirate.

Surgeons will evaluate different types of bone graft products based on their clinical efficacy, form (sheet, putty, etc.), and handling. Granules may be further processed into putties and sheet-based products when combined with a carrier.Ĭhoosing The Right Material for Your Proceduresĭue to the variety of bone graft options, surgeon preference can vary widely and is influenced by a number of factors. Synthetic bone graft products are found in granule and block form. Synthetic bone grafts are also resorbable, and will eventually be replaced by the patient’s own bone following the healing response. They are manufactured from biocompatible ceramics, glasses, polymers, and collagen (animal-derived) and are intended to function as a scaffold for bone formation. Synthetic bone graft materials were specifically designed to provide an alternative to autograft. The synthetic bone graft category encompasses many types of bone grafts, all of which are derived from man-made materials. Therefore, growth factor products consist of the recombinantly manufactured growth factor component, which is rehydrated into a solution, and a porous material that absorbs the fluid and functions as a scaffold to support bone formation. In bone grafting procedures, a porous scaffold is needed to support the bone formation response. These proteins have been shown to positively influence the bone formation response. Growth factors are a type of bone graft product typically consisting of specific proteins, such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Since these cells are non-immunogenic, they can be harvested from a tissue donor and used in any patient. Additionally, allograft processing can be done in a manner that isolates and maintains live bone marrow cells. DBM powder and fibers can also be mixed with a carrier to form moldable putties or gels. This type of allograft, called demineralized bone matrix (DBM), is commonly found in a particle, fiber, or cancellous sponge form. This bone is cleaned, disinfected, and eventually processed into powders, blocks, or shaped implants.īone can also be further processed to remove the mineral component and expose proteins capable of stimulating bone formation. Allograft is derived from both cortical and cancellous bone. Allograft ProductsĪllograft is a type of bone graft consisting of human tissue and/or cells harvested from cadavers (tissue donors). In foot and ankle surgery, surgeons use autograft harvest sites from the same leg where the bone graft is needed. These surgeons will use bone harvested from the calcaneus (heel bone) or lower tibia/fibula (leg bones). In spine fusion surgery, surgeons can avoid a second surgical harvest site by using local cortical bone removed from the posterior spinal elements. This is generated when the surgeon decorticates the posterior vertebra to prepare for fusion. In general, bone graft materials can be grouped into four main categories based on the material source and composition:Īutograft is the gold standard of bone grafting. It is harvested from the patient and consists of cortical or cancellous bone that contains live cells. The iliac crest is a common harvest site due to the ease of surgical access and availability of both cortical bone and marrow-rich cancellous bone. Since iliac crest bone is used in other areas of the body, the patient ends up with two surgical sites and two incisions. This guide outlines the four main different types of bone graft materials available to surgeons today. Among the newest products are next-generation synthetic bone graft materials, which have advanced properties that offer many of the same benefits as other products while mitigating the risks. With advancements in materials technology, tissue processing, and a better understanding of the bone regeneration process, a wide variety of different types of bone grafts have been developed and introduced to the market. However, issues with donor site pain and infection, scarring, and limited supply drove the search for alternatives to autograft. For years, bone taken from the patient (autograft) served as a surgeon’s primary graft material. Bone grafting is a surgical technique that is commonly performed in orthopedic and spinal procedures.

Ifactor bone graft