Bone substitutes: an update
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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Half-segmental Diaphyseal Bone Defect Model in Rats for Evaluating Bone Substitute Performance in Load-bearing Regions
Published on: December 30, 2025
Peter V Giannoudis1, Haralambos Dinopoulos, Eleftherios Tsiridis
1Academic Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. pgiannoudi@aol.com
Abstract:
Autograft is considered ideal for grafting procedures, providing osteoinductive growth factors, osteogenic cells, and an osteoconductive scaffold. Limitations, however, exist regarding donor site morbidity and graft availability. Allograft on the other hand, posses the risk of disease transmission. Synthetic graft substitutes lack osteoinductive or osteogenic properties. Composite grafts combine scaffolding properties with biological elements to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation and eventually osteogenesis. We present here an overview of bone grafts and graft substitutes available for clinical applications.
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