It can be hard to believe, but bone grafting has been around for hundreds of years. Of course, it’s evolved a lot over time and the techniques used today are far more advanced than those used in the past. Let’s take a look at bone grafting and how it has changed over time, with an emphasis on more recent developments.
Humans have found evidence of primitive bone grafting dating back thousands of years. Anthropologists have found evidence of animal bone being used to attempt to repair human skull injuries dating back to at least 2000 BCE. Metal and wood are also believed to have been used by ancient people to attempt to make primitive bone grafts, quite likely to limited success. In the 16th century, a surgeon used dog bones to treat a soldier’s wound. In 1821 in Germany, the first autograft was performed, meaning bone was taken from one part of an individual’s body and grafted onto another part.
Over the years, techniques would continue to improve. In the 20th century, medicine as a whole began to advance at a much more rapid pace. Today, we all enjoy access to far more advanced medical treatments. Let’s take a look at the evolution of modern bone grafting.
Today, animal bone is not typically used in humans. Instead, synthetic materials are becoming more common. During the 1990s, ceramics and other materials began to be widely used to repair injuries and aid in reconstruction.
Using synthetic materials instead of removing bone can be less intrusive for patients and may lead to a speedier recovery. Synthetic materials can perform as well as natural bone, and in some cases may even outperform. Many medical professionals now prefer synthetics as well.
More recently, three-dimensional printers and other advanced technologies have been brought to bear. Modern tools like the GraftGun make it easier to deliver bone graft materials. Given all this, it should come as no surprise that a 16-year study of two million bone graft patients revealed a sustained shift in the United States from using traditional bone grafts to using bone graft substitutes, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Interested in using the latest bone grafting technologies? Feel free to reach out to us and we can provide more insights into our revolutionary technology. Our tools will benefit patients and practitioners alike. We look forward to working with you.