Bone Graft

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

A bone graft adds a piece of bone to the site of a fracture or other bone problem. This can help repair and rebuild damaged bone. The new bone may come from another part of the body or from another person. Rarely, man-made grafts are also used.

Iliac Crest Graft Harvest

Reasons for Procedure

A bone graft may be done to:

Treat a fracture that is not healing
Rebuild a shattered bone
Fill gaps in bone caused by cysts or tumors
Fuse bones on either side of a joint
Speed bone growth to help anchor a man-made joint or other implant

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

Excess bleeding
Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
Infection
Blood clots
Nerve damage
Rejection of a donor graft
Fat particles that come apart from the bone marrow and travel to the lung (rare)

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The surgical team may meet with you to talk about:

Anesthesia options
Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
Fasting before surgery, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
Whether you need a ride to and from surgery

Anesthesia

The doctor may give:

Local anesthesia—the area will be numbed
General anesthesia—you will be asleep

Description of the Procedure

The graft method depends on the type and site of the bone injury or problem. It also depends on the type of graft a person gets.

Most bone grafts use a person's own bone. Often, the bone is taken from the bone at the hip, about where a belt would be worn. A cut is made over the part of the bone that will be removed. A special bone chisel will remove the piece of bone. The cut is then closed.

A cut will be made in the skin of the site in need of the graft. Any scar or dead tissue will be removed from the site. The bone will then be rebuilt with the graft. Plates and screws may be used to keep the bone in place. A cast or brace may be needed after the graft.

After Procedure

An x-ray may be taken to make sure the bone is in the right place.

How Long Will It Take?

How long it takes will depend on the repair.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Pain and swelling are common in the first 1 to 2 weeks. Medicine and home care can manage pain.

Average Hospital Stay

The length of stay will depend on the repair that was done.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

The staff may give you pain medicine right after the procedure.

During your stay, staff will take steps to lower your chance of infection, such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

You can also lower your chance of infection by:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
Not letting others touch your incisions

At Home

It will take a few weeks or months to heal. It depends on the repair that is done. Physical activity may need to be limited during recovery. You may need to ask for help with daily activities and delay return to work.

Call Your Doctor

Call the doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge
Nausea and vomiting
Pain that you cannot control with medicine
Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or blood in the urine
Cough, problems breathing, or chest pain
Numbness or tingling at the site
New or unexpected symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org

When it Hurts to Move—Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://whenithurtstomove.org

References:

Amanatullah DF, Strauss EJ, et al. Current management options for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: part II, operative management. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2011 Oct;40(10):E216-25.

Bone and tissue transplantation. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 28, 2020.

Bone grafting. The Cleveland Clinic website. Available at
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 28, 2020.

Bone grafts in spine surgery. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 28, 2020.

Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 6/8/2021

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.