The Use of Bone Grafts in Orthopaedic Surgery

Yoon, Taek Rim; Chung, Jae Yoon; Moon, Eun Sun; Song, Eun Kyoo; Seo, Hyoung Yeon

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study reviews the scope and frequency of various bone grafting procedures performed in the field of orthopedic surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed 11,041 cases performed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Chonnam National University Hospital (Kwangju, South Korea) spanning from January 1992 to December 1998. The cases were categorized into the following groups : spine, shoulder and elbow joints, hip joints, knee joints, fracture, and tumor-associated cases. Of these, 1081 cases comprised bone graft procedures and were retrospectively analyzed by diagnosis, surgical procedure, age, sex and type of bone graft. RESULT: Bone grafting was performed in 1081 of 11,041 orthopedic surgery cases (9.8%). That si, bone grafting was performed for approximately 1 in 10 patients. The and fracture-related complications (362 cases, 33.5%), hip joint (194 cases, 18%) and tumor-associated operations (49 cases, 4.5%). During the four year period, 1992-1995, 413 cases were performed. The number of bone graft cases increased in the subsequent period, 1996-1998, to 668 cases and continues to rise.
CONCLUSION
As the need for bone graft procedures increases, we believe that the frequency of allogeneic bone graft transplantation will also rise due to limitations in bone graft donor sites. Thus, effective and organized management of a bone bank along with accurate record-keeping are necessary in maintaining an adequate supply of allogeneic bone grafts. And, further research on artificial bone is needed.