Bone Graft Overview
Learn About Bone Graft
A bone graft is surgery to place new bone or bone substitutes into spaces around a broken bone or bone defects to stimulate healing.
Autograft - bone; Allograft - bone; Fracture - bone graft; Surgery - bone graft; Autologous bone graft
A bone graft can be taken from the person's own healthy bone (this is called an autograft). Or, it can be taken from frozen, donated bone (allograft). In some cases, a manmade (synthetic) bone substitute is used.
You will be asleep and feel no pain (general anesthesia).
During surgery, the surgeon makes a cut over the bone defect. The bone graft can be taken from areas close to the bone defect or more commonly from the pelvis. The bone graft is shaped and inserted into and around the area. The bone graft may need to be held in place with pins, plates, or screws.
Bone grafts are used to:
- Fuse joints to prevent movement
- Repair broken bones (fractures) that have bone loss
- Repair injured bone that has not healed
Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general include:
- Reactions to medicines, breathing problems
- Bleeding, blood clots, infection
Risks of this surgery include:
- Pain at the body area where the bone was removed
- Injury of nerves near the bone grafting area
- Stiffness of the area
Tell your surgeon or nurse if:
- You are or could be pregnant
- You are taking any medicines, including medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription
During the week before your surgery:
- You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
- Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.
On the day of the surgery:
- Follow instructions about not eating or drinking anything before surgery.
- Take the medicines your provider told you to take with a small sip of water.
- If you are going to the hospital from home, be sure to arrive at the scheduled time.
Recovery time depends on the injury or defect being treated and the size of the bone graft. Your recovery may take 2 weeks to 3 months. The bone graft itself will take up to 3 months or longer to heal.
You may be told to avoid extreme exercise for up to 6 months. Ask your surgeon or nurse what you can and cannot safely do.
You will need to keep the bone graft area clean and dry. Follow instructions about showering.
Do not smoke. Smoking slows or prevents bone healing. If you smoke, the graft is more likely to fail. Be aware that nicotine patches slow healing just like smoking does. You may also be told not to take non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. These medicines can slow down bone fusion.
You may need to use a bone stimulator. These are machines that can be worn over the surgical area to stimulate bone growth. Not all bone graft surgeries require the use of bone stimulators. Your surgeon will let you know if you'll need to use a bone stimulator.
Most bone grafts help the bone defect heal with little risk of graft rejection.
New York University
Kenneth Egol is an Orthopedics provider in New York, New York. Dr. Egol is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Bone Graft. His top areas of expertise are Compartment Syndrome, Radial Nerve Dysfunction, Acute Pain, Bone Graft, and Hip Replacement.
Sinai Hospital Of Baltimore, Inc
Michael Mont is an Orthopedics provider in Randallstown, Maryland. Dr. Mont is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Bone Graft. His top areas of expertise are Osteonecrosis, Osteoarthritis, Osteolysis Syndrome Recessive, Knee Replacement, and Hip Replacement.
The Curators Of The University Of Missouri
James Stannard is a Sports Medicine specialist and an Orthopedics provider in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Stannard is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Bone Graft. His top areas of expertise are Hypermobile Joints, Osteoarthritis, Osteochondritis Dissecans, Bone Graft, and Osteotomy. Dr. Stannard is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and long-term (radiological and clinical) outcomes during comprehensive care continuum of implanted biocomposite for bone regeneration FlexiOss® compared to the current standard of care in patients with primary acute trauma bone defects. The efficacy, safety and long-term (radiological and clinical) evaluation will be assessed duri...
Summary: After tooth loss, the alveolar ridge undergoes various modeling and remodeling processes, resulting in overall bone resorption. In case of extensive alveolar atrophy, bone volume must be restored before or during implant placement to achieve successful dental rehabilitation and maximize implant survival and success rates. One possible method for reconstructing severe bone resorption is block bone ...
Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Brinker MR, O'Connor DP. Nonunions: evaluation and treatment. In: Browner BD, Jupiter JB, Krettek C, Anderson PA, eds. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26.
Seitz IA, Teven CM, Hendren-Santiago B, Reid RR. Repair and grafting of bone. In: Gurtner GC, Pusic AL, eds. Plastic Surgery, Volume 1: Principles. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 20.