Not All Autologous
Bone is Equal

While autologous bone is commonly referred to as the “gold standard”, this characterization is most appropriately reserved for cancellous autologous bone that has been minimally manipulated and delivered shortly after harvesting.

Discover why cancellous autologous bone is the ideal choice for bone grafts

The Key Properties Required for Effective Grafts

Osteoinductive

Osteoinductive

Active recruitment and stimulation of stem cells, differentiate into osteoblasts and form new bone.

Osteoconductive

Osteoconductive

Passive scaffold to maintain space and allow for bone formation.

Osteogenic

Osteogenic

Osteogenic living cells, such as osteoblasts, make new bone. Osteoprogenitor cells can proliferate and differentiate to osteoblasts which turn into osteocytes.

Osteoinductive

Active recruitment and stimulation of stem cells, differentiate into osteoblasts and form new bone.

Osteoconductive

Passive scaffold to maintain space and allow for bone formation.

Osteogenic

Osteogenic living cells, such as osteoblasts, make new bone. Osteoprogenitor cells can proliferate and differentiate to osteoblasts which turn into osteocytes.

Cortical Bone (Putties)

Cortical bone, including “putties” formed from cortical remnants of high speed drilling techniques are very different from architecturally and cytologically preserved cancellous bone.

Adding Cells to Allograft

Adding cells to allograft from marrow aspirate or expanded colonies of mesenchymal stem cells, does not replicate the properties of freshly harvested and minimally manipulated autologous bone. 

Suction and Auger

Use of suction (which separates marrow elements from cancellous matrix) and auger/curettage techniques (which morselize or disrupt matrix architecture) affects both osteoproliferative and osteoconductive properties of the “gold standard”.

Autologous Bone Cases and Publications

Autologous Bone Grafting in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review

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Percutaneous Harvesting of Cancellous Bone Graft: A Surgical Technique Harvesting from the Calcaneus Using COREX

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Posterior Iliac Crest Bone Graft (ICBG): A Surgical Technique for Harvesting with COREX

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