Bone regeneration

Surgeons will often use a bone graft material to fill bony defects which may occur secondary to trauma or bone loss from a variety of causes. These bone grafts will support and assist your bone in regenerating itself.
 

What is a bone graft substitute?

A bone graft substitute may be any material that is used to replace or repair bone that is missing due to trauma, disease or surgery.
 

Why do I need a bone graft substitute?

If you have a defect in your bone that your surgeon needs to repair or fill, he or she may choose to use a bone graft substitute to restore the defect.
 

Are there different types of bone graft materials?

Surgeons have a number of choices for bone grafting materials.
They include:

• Autologous bone - bone taken from another part of the patient's own body
• Allogeneic bone or allograft - bone transplanted from one individual to another of the same species with a different genotype, usually from a cadaveric donor
• Bone of xenogeneic origin - bone taken from another species, usually of animal origin. This material is cleaned, processed and sterilised according to stringent regulations to ensure their safety
• Synthetic material - artificially produced material, usually from ceramics or polymers.