When bones fracture, it’s not terribly uncommon for the body to have difficulty in repairing itself properly. This is especially true in situations of multiple fractures, where the bones may heal themselves in ways that can cause the patient even more pain and difficulty. In these cases, bone grafting can help correct the improper healing and restore the bone structure to something more similar to its original state.
When a joint is damaged, sometimes it becomes necessary to fuse two bones together to cover where a joint once was; this is more commonly seen in foot injuries where joint or bone damage has occurred. Grafting can help the bones fuse together across the damaged joint, helping speed repair.
Certain injuries or diseases lead to bone damage and degeneration. In these cases, especially where the body’s own healing abilities are compromised, additional efforts may be needed to fully restore bone health. Grafting may help with bone repair and can potentially slow further damage being done.
Medical implants, such as joint replacements, are becoming increasingly common; as many as 6.8 million Americans use assistive devices, including implants. However, implantation can take its toll on the body, particularly when it comes to bone health. Grafting may be useful under these circumstances to help the body to heal and adjust to the presence of these new devices.
Bone grafting can be an incredibly useful type of medical treatment in these specific circumstances, however, they are not the only situations that will require the use of bone grafts. For more information on bone grafts and when they can be used, contact SurGenTec or your local medical professional.