Use of bone graft substitutes in lower extremity reconstructive surgery.

Autologous iliac crest graft has been a standard source of supplementary bone for treating bony defects, fractures and arthrodeses. Bone graft substitutes have recently become widely available. This paper reports on the use of bone graft substitute in 28 patients that otherwise would have required an iliac crest graft. Twenty-four of the 28 operations were successful in the primary procedure with four patients requiring a second procedure that was then successful.