Bone repair techniques, bone graft, and bone graft substitutes

This paper reviews the techniques and materials (bone graft and bone graft substitutes) that currently are used to treat nonunions and bone defects. T he techniques reviewed are intramedullary nailing, plating, distraction ost eogenesis, and electric stimulation. Bone graft and bone graft substitutes reviewed are as follows: vascularized bone transfers; autogenous bone graft ; autogenous bone marrow; demineralized bone matrix; growth factors; calciu m sulphate; calcium phosphates; and allograft, The goal of management of fr actures, nonunions, and segmental bony defects, is the return of function a s quickly and completely as possible. Techniques and management strategies constantly are evolving to accomplish this goal. This paper reviews the his tory, indications, and limitations of bone repair techniques, methods of bo ne grafting, and materials available as bone graft substitutes.