Bone grafting is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures. It involves transplanting bone tissue from one part of the body to another. Bone may be taken from patients own body (autograft) or from donated bone (allograft). Sometimes synthetic substitutes available commercially may be used to extend the quantity of graft. The procedure is usually done to repair complex fractured bones that have bone loss or where union is delayed or where serial x-rays during follow-up show that bone healing is not progressing.
60- to 90 minutes
General anesthesia or regional as per preference of patient and anesthetist.
4-5 days
It depends on the amount of bone graft harvested and the defect being treated. Donor area recovery takes 03 to 04 weeks. The recipient area takes about 03 to 04 months for bone graft to heal. It is advisable to avoid vigorous physical activity for about 06 months post procedure.
When the bone breaks through the skin and external bleeding occurs. The tissues covered by skin are exposed to the environment. Because of this bacteria can travel to the fracture site and cause infection. The severity of the injury is related to the magnitude of force applied to the body. The most benign form involves a slip and fall with a puncture wound in the region of the fracture. The other end of the spectrum is a high speed accident with significant crushing of the limb. Initial management is crucial and subsequent surgical intervention necessary on an urgent basis.
The greatest risk remains infection. The potential for injury to surrounding nerves and blood vessels is high. Sometimes skin loss occurs and plastic surgery is required to cover exposed bone. These fractures take longer to heal and secondary surgery to hasten healing required. It is said that well begun is half done. Timely treatment at our hospital with specialists dedicated to trauma care can help avoid problems associated with open fractures.
