Bone grafting is the solution for severe bone fractures. It joins two bones to treat acute pain in patients.
Many methods of bone grafting are available, including synthetic bone graft, autograft, and allograft. All these are necessary to treat orthopedic conditions.
So, to begin with, what is bone grafting?
The Meaning of Bone Grafting
A bone graft is a procedure that fixes disorders afflicting the joints and bones. The bone grafting procedure involves transplanting bone tissue and works very well for fixing damaged bones, which can be the result of problematic joints and trauma.
Doctors also use bone grafting to grow bones around implants. Patients have implants as a result of knee replacements. Moreover, bone grafts fill areas where bones are absent, providing structural stability.
Surgeons take bones for bone grafting from the patient’s body or a donor. Alternatively, there are synthetic options that work perfectly. If the patient’s body accepts the graft, it is the best framework for the growth of a living bone.
The Types of Bone Grafts
Top orthopedic surgeons conduct different bone grafting procedures at Max Healthcare. These procedures include:
- Allograft
This grafting method involves using bone tissue from a donor. It is common in spinal fusion surgeries. Allografts make the growth of healthy living bone tissue around the affected area possible.
The procedure has strict regulations. These ensure the donated bone tissue is clean and sterilized before introduction into the patient’s body.
Allografts are common for:
- Hip repair
- Knee reconstruction
- Long bone (arms and legs) reconstruction
- Autograft
Autografts use the patient’s bone tissue sample. Usually, orthopedic surgeons get the tissue from the hip bone (top part) by making an incision. Using the patient’s tissue reduces the chances of rejection.
However, the downside is that the amount of bone tissue available for harvesting is limited. Also, patients experience pain at the site where the bone is collected.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate
The bone marrow is the spongy substance found inside the bones. The spongy substance contains progenitor and stem cells, which help heal bone fractures.
The orthopedic surgeon uses a needle to extract the bone marrow from the iliac crest (hip bone). Doctors proceed to combine the marrow aspirate and other bone grafts to enhance healing for allograft procedures.
- Synthetic Bone Grafts
Thanks to technology, synthetic bone grafts are available for patients with bone and joint issues. Synthetic bone grafts use artificial materials made from porous substances. However, some synthetic bone grafts contain proteins to aid bone development.
The type of graft used depends on the level of injury or trauma to the bone or joint.
Risks Associated with Bone Grafting
The top orthopedic surgeons in India do everything in their power and knowledge to ensure the procedure goes on without a hitch. Still, surgeries are complex procedures, and complications occur.
The risks of bone grafting include:
- Infection
- Swelling and inflammation
- Blood loss
- Issues with bone healing
- Fractures
- Chronic pain
- Scarring
- Plates and screws failing to hold the graft in place
- Nerve injury
- Rejection of the bone graft
Orthopedic surgeons working at Max Healthcare ensure they follow up on recovering patients to detect any issues as they develop. Any slight issues are dealt with immediately to prevent any adverse effects. Moreover, patients recovering from bone grafting surgeries must visit their doctors after the procedure for regular checkups. Despite the risks, bone grafting has many benefits.
The Benefits of Bone Grafting
Every type of grafting has its benefits. So, ask your doctor about the best procedure based on the benefits. Here’s a breakdown:
Allograft
- With allograft, no additional procedure is necessary for harvesting bone tissue
- There is a low risk of infections because of intense sterilization of bone tissue
- Tissue does not come from other bones
Autograft
- Low chances of infection
- Minimal disease transmission
- Mostly successful because bone-growing cells are present in the bone graft
Synthetic Bone Graft
- Free of germs
- Unlimited availability
- Several options are available, satisfying different medical needs
The Bone Grafting Procedure
During bone grafting surgery, patients receive anesthesia to put them to sleep and block sensations. Anesthesia makes it easier and safer to conduct surgery because the patients don’t move or feel pain.
Afterward, the orthopedic surgeon makes an incision on the skin around the area of the affected bone. Next, surgeons clean the bone and remove the dead tissue, making the area ready for grafting.
The available graft, from a donor, the patient’s tissue, or synthetic graft is introduced to the area using various surgical techniques.
The procedure involves the use of:
- Pins
- Plates
- Wires
- Cables
- Screws
The orthopedic surgeon uses stitches to close the incision site when the graft is in place.
Reasons for Bone Grafting
Different orthopedic issues lead to bone grafting. Of course, doctors might try other non-surgical treatments, but the most suitable for bone and joint issues is bone grafting.
Visit an orthopedic surgeon for the following:
- Bone diseases like bone cancer and osteonecrosis
- Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
- Congenital anomalies
- Spinal fusion
- Trauma
- Jaw reinforcements
- Joint replacement surgeries
Once you experience bone and joint trauma, you need the best treatment to stop the pain and solve the problem. Bone grafting is an excellent way to solve many joint and bone issues.
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