Current approaches to experimental bone grafting.

A number of osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive substances currently are being investigated for use in bone repair. It is conceivable that a selected combination of osteogenic cells, osteoinductive factors, and osteoconductive matrices can be combined and fabricated into an implantable material custom-suited to particular clinical demands. Consequently, it is crucial that potential graft substances be experimentally characterized in terms of their precise contribution to the bone-forming mechanisms. In this article, the authors review current areas of research in the realm of experimental grafting, including the current understanding of materials that manifest osteogenic, osteoinductive, or osteoconductive properties.