Overview

Following a tumor or cyst removal, or in the case of fracture repair, the remaining void must be filled in order for healing to occur. There are many options for filling bone voids, ranging from autogenous bone, to allograft bone to synthetic fillers- each with benefits and drawbacks. Each surgical procedure is unique and, therefore, the best course of treatment should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Here's an overview of the options:

Autogenous Cancellous Bone​

Autogenous cancellous bone is bone that is harvested from the patient's own body, typically from the iliac crest. It is the standard against which all other bone void filler options are compared. Pros: Osteogenic, osteoinductive and osteoconductive- effectively stimulates bone repair. Cons: Procurement morbidity, limited availability and increased operative time.

 

Allograft Bone

Allograft is bone material that has been donated from another human body. Allograft is a common alternative to autograft when autografting is not possible or recommended. Pros: Structural (if mineralized), osteoconductive (if demineralized). Cons: Inconsistent results, non-structural, potential for disease transfer or patient immune response.

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Synthetic Bone Void Fillers

Synthetic bone void fillers are osteoconductive, are consistent, high-quality materials with no biologic hazards and, once repaired, defect sites are comparable to cancellous bone. 

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What is a Bone Void Filler (BVF)?

Bone void fillers are absorbable, biocompatible, bioactive and osteoconductive biologic materials that are used to fill gaps and voids of the skeletal system such as extremities, posterolateral spine and pelvis. 

 

Bone void fillers are intended to provide stability and increase cell proliferation, which can result in enhanced bone regeneration in various orthopedic applications. 

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Types of Bone Void Filler

 

Calcium Phosphates

Calcium phosphate-based bone void fillers have increased porosity/particle size, which translates to increased mechanical strength. However, this also increases the material resorption time- meaning that bone growth is delayed. 

 

Calcium Sulfates

Calcium sulfate-based bone void fillers have decreased porosity/particle size, which means that the product is resorbed by the body more quickly. However, this results in a decreased mechanical strength, which is important during the bone healing phase. 

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Magnesium Phosphate (Mg OSTEO Technology)

Magnesium phosphate-based bone void fillers maintain the optimal porosity/particle size, meaning that there is increased mechanical strength during the critical bone healing phase, and it remodels into bone in a timely manner.