Our 17-year old daughter was in a mountain climbing accident. She almost lost her leg. The surgeons think they can help the bone fill in better using some kind of new bone substitute. How does this work?
Scientists haven't perfected it yet, but they have developed new bone substitute materials that can be used effectively. Not everyone is a good candidate for these products. Surgeons must choose their patients and products carefully.
But when it's a good match, bone graft substitutes can be very helpful. First the material must be osteoconductive. This means it is able to help form new bone growth. A three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold is made on which and in which bone can form.
The bone graft substitute provides this scaffold. During bone ingrowth, new blood vessels form. Bone forming cells migrate or move into the bone graft substitute. New bone growth fills in the open spaces.
The size of the pores is important. Researchers have found that bone ingrowth occurs best when the size is between 150 and 500 um. The size has to be just right to avoid filling in with soft tissue and scar tissue instead of bone.
Sometimes the bone graft material fills in open defects in the bone. In other cases, it is used to extend across a fracture site. In all cases, it is used with other means of stabilizing the bone. For example, metal plates, screws, or wires may be used to stabilize the bone while healing takes place.
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