Know the bone graft procedure and its implementation

Bone graft or bone graft is a medical procedure that is performed by filling the damaged bone with new bone or bone replacement. A bone graft is to repair and rebuild damaged bone.

Bone consists of cells that play an important role in maintaining the integrity of bone shape. When bones break, bone cells grow to repair and grow lost bone. But if the bone lesion is severe enough, a bone graft must be done to allow the bone to heal completely.

During a bone graft, the orthopedic doctor will use bones from the body, such as ribs, pelvis or wrists (autograft transplants). Sometimes bone grafts also use other people's tissue or bone donors (allograft grafts).

The purpose and indications of bone grafting

Doctors recommend that patients undergo bone grafts for several reasons, namely:

Broken bones that do not heal despite being treated.
Broken bones that occur in the joints.
Bones are damaged by injuries, such as falls or car or motorcycle accidents.
Bones are damaged due to infection or certain diseases, such as bone cancer or osteonecrosis.

A bone graft is also performed to push back the bone tissue around the implant that is surgically implanted, for example during joint replacement surgery. Sometimes bone graft surgery is done as part of spinal surgery and dental surgery.

Warn before bone graft
Here are some conditions that patients must consider before having a bone graft:

Allergy to anesthesia.
Currently taking certain medicines, including supplements or herbal medicines.
You have a history of blood clotting disorders.
Suffered from diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

Before surgery, tell your doctor if you have one of these conditions.

Preparation before bone graft
The doctor will explain to the patient a bone graft procedure to perform, its benefits, as well as complications that may occur after surgery. The doctor will also conduct a general physical examination, including blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.

In addition, patients will receive blood tests for diseases that can affect their condition during and after surgery. Scanning tests, such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI, are also done so that the doctor knows in detail the state of the bone lesions.

Before a bone graft, the doctor will advise the patient to:

Fast for 8 hours.
Quit smoking.
Stop using anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin or aspirin, to prevent major bleeding during surgery.

In addition, the doctor will advise the patient to be accompanied by family members or close relatives during and after the procedure, and to bring the patient home. This must be done because the bone graft procedure will limit the patient's ability to move, so it must always be accompanied.

Bone grafting procedure
The duration of a bone graft procedure depends on the condition of the fracture, the type of bone graft used, and the general condition of the patient.

The following are the steps for a bone graft procedure:

The patient will lie on his back on the operating table.
The doctor will use intravenously to distribute drugs and other drugs.
The anesthesiologist will give general anesthesia or general anesthesia so that the patient falls asleep during the operation. The doctor will monitor the patient's heart rate and blood pressure.
If a bone graft is taken from a part of the patient's body (autograft), the orthopedic doctor will first perform an additional procedure to remove bone tissue from the patient's body parts.
The doctor will form a bone that will be grafted according to the damaged bone.
After cleaning the operating area, the doctor will make an incision around the broken or broken bone.
The doctor will insert a new bone or bone replacement between two broken bones. Under certain conditions, doctors use special pens to prevent bones from moving and developing perfectly.
After a bone graft, the doctor stitches and closes the surgical wound. Plaster or splinting is usually used to support bones during the healing period.

Treatment after bone graft

After undergoing a bone graft, the patient will be placed in a recovery room and hospitalized for several days. The doctor will monitor the patient's blood pressure and heart rate, prescribe analgesics and anticoagulants to prevent blood clots after surgery.

During the recovery period, the doctor will regularly monitor the condition of the bones using X-rays and remove stitches at least a week after surgery. Patients are allowed to go home after the doctor makes sure his condition is stable.

The doctor will prescribe medication and give instructions on what the patient can do during the recovery period at home. Some things you can do are:

Rest and don't move too much.
Make sure the wound area is clean and dry. Change pads regularly, following the doctor or nurse's instructions.
Use cold compresses to prevent inflammation. In addition, place the leg or arm that is operated higher than the heart in the supine position to avoid the risk of clots.
Eat foods and drinks that are high in calcium and vitamin D, such as milk, cheese or yogurt.
Perform routine checks at an orthopedic doctor to monitor the bone healing process.

Some things that should not be done when the patient follows the recovery process at home, include:

Smoking because it can inhibit the bone healing process.
Do difficult exercises, such as long distance running, for more than six months.

Patients are also advised to undergo physiotherapy to restore the strength and flexibility of the muscles of the body undergoing bone grafting. Patients should immediately contact a doctor if they have a high fever, pain that cannot be treated with painkillers, and that the surgical wound is swollen.

The duration of recovery depends on the state of the fracture, age and size of the bone graft. However, patients usually need two weeks to more than a year to fully recover and return to normal.

Risk and Complications of Bone Graft
Bone grafting procedures are generally safe. But like other surgical procedures, this action can cause bleeding, infection or adverse effects due to the anesthetics used, such as allergic reactions. Some complications can also occur after a bone graft in a patient, including: