Osteobiologics in foot and ankle surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Autogenous bone graft is the gold standard for bone healing, providing essential osteogenic cells and growth factors.
• Skeletal repair involves complex intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including surgical technique and fixation.
• Nonunion can occur when the bone healing microenvironment is disrupted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of osteobiological agents in orthopedic surgery.
• To emphasize the importance of autograft bone in bone defect repair.
• To discuss the limitations of allografts and bone fillers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on osteobiologics and bone healing.
• Analysis of the properties of autograft, allograft, and bone fillers.
• Discussion of factors influencing osseous healing.

Main Results:

• Autograft bone possesses superior osteogenic properties and structural integrity compared to allografts.
• Allografts lose mechanical strength during processing and should ideally be combined with autograft.
• Bone fillers without structural support require adequate cortical contact for efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Osteobiological agents are valuable adjuncts to surgical principles, enhancing bone repair.
• Autogenous bone graft remains the preferred method for bone defect repair.
• Understanding bone healing mechanisms informs the use of osteobiologics for improved patient outcomes.