Autograft – bone; Allograft – bone; Fracture – bone graft; Surgery – bone graft; Autologous bone graft
A bone graft is surgery to place new bone or bone substitutes into spaces around a broken bone or bone defect.
Description
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 is shaped and inserted into and around the area. The bone graft can be held in place with pins, plates, or screws.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
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
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 place on the body where the bone was removed
- Injury of nerves near the bone grafting area
- Stiffness of the area
Before the Procedure
Tell your surgeon what medicines you are taking. This includes medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
Follow instructions about stopping medicines that make it harder for your blood to clot. These might cause increased bleeding during the 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.
After the Procedure
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 doctor 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.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Most bone grafts help the bone defect heal with little risk of graft rejection.
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 . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 25.
Seitz IA, Teven CM, Reid RR. Repair and grafting of bone. In: Neligan PC, ed. Plastic Surgery . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 21.
