[Autologous bone grafts. Anatomo-physiology, technique and actual location for bone reconstructions]

The authors discuss the indications for conventional nonvascularized bone grafts, of which the scope of utilisation has been considerably reduced since the advent of vascularized bone grafts. The objective of this study is to highlight the essential knowledge regarding the biology and biomechanics of the incorporation of bone grafts. The principal donor sites are examined with respect to the operative techniques and the advantages and disadvantages. The authors then derive the principal indications for conventional bone grafting and illustrate them with examples selected for limb reconstruction.