Bone Grafting is a medical process which is performed surgically in which a new bone or a replacement material is placed into spaces between or around broken bone (fractures) or in holes in bone (defects) to aid in healing.
Bone grafting is used to repair bone fractures that are extremely complex, pose a significant risk to the patient, or fail to heal properly. The procedure is also used to help to combine between vertebrae, correct deformities, or provide structural support for fractures of the spine.
In addition to fracture repair, bone grafting is used to repair defects in bone caused by congenital disorders, traumatic injury, or surgery for bone cancer. Bone grafts are also used for facial or cranial reconstruction.
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The bone used in a bone graft can come from your body, a donor, or it can be entirely man-made. It can provide a framework where new, living bone can grow if it’s accepted by the body.
What are the different types of bone grafts?
The two most common types of bone grafts are:
- Allograft, which uses bone from a deceased donor that has been cleaned and stored in a tissue bank.
- Autograft, which comes from a bone inside your body, such as your ribs, hips, pelvis, or wrist.
Allografts are commonly used in hip, knee, or long bone reconstruction. Long bones include arms and legs. The advantage of using this technique is that there is no additional surgery needed to acquire the bone. The process also lowers the risk of infection since additional incisions or surgery isn’t required.
Why is bone grafting performed?
Bone grafting is done for various reasons, including injury and disease. There are four main reasons when bone grafts are used:
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- Bone graft may be used in the case of multiple or complex fractures or those that don’t heal well after initial treatment.
- Fusion helps when two bones are healed together across a diseased joint. Fusion is most often done on the spine.
- Regeneration is used for bone lost to disease, infection, or injury. This can involve using small amounts of bone in bone cavities or large sections of bones.
- A graft can be used to help the bone heal around surgically implanted devices, like joint replacements, plates, or screws.
What are the risks associated with Bone Grafting?
All the surgical procedures involve risks of bleeding, infection, and reactions to anesthesia. Bone grafts carry these risks and other risks, including:
- Pain
- swelling
- nerve injury
- rejection of the bone graft
- inflammation
- re-absorption of the graft
Ask the doctor about these risks and what the patient can do to minimize them.
How is a bone graft performed?
The doctor will decide which type of bone graft will be used before surgery. The patient will be given general anesthesia, which will put him into a deep sleep. An anesthesiologist will monitor the anesthesia and the patient’s recovery.
The doctor will make an incision in the skin above where the graft is needed. They’ll then shape the donated bone to fit the area. The graft will be placed using any of the following:
- pins
- plates
- screws
- wires
- cables
Once the graft is secured in place, the surgeon will close the incision or wound with stitches and bandage the wound. A cast or splint can be used to support the bone at the time of healing. Most of the times, no casting or splint is necessary.
What are the steps ensured after Bone Grafting?
Recovery from bone grafts depends on the size of the graft and other variables. Typical recovery can take anywhere from two weeks to more than a year. The patient will probably need to avoid vigorous physical activity for as long as your surgeon suggests.
Apply ice and elevate the patient’s arm or leg after surgery. This is extremely important. It can help prevent swelling, which causes pain and can cause blood clots in your leg. As a general rule, keep the patient’s arm or leg above the level of his heart. Even if the injury is in a cast, putting ice bags over the cast may help.
During recovery, the patient should exercise the muscle groups that weren’t affected by the surgery. This will help keep the patient’s body in good shape. The patient should also maintain a healthy diet, which will aid in the recovery process.
What are the different tests to be performed before Bone Grafting?
Some of the different tests which are to be performed before Bone Grafting are:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
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