Glossary: Graft

In the past, the patient's own bone had been used (autologous bone). This required a large bone graft to be taken from the patient's iliac crest, and had a fairly high complication rate (such as postoperative chronic pain, infection, pelvic fracture). Also, this bone is not all that strong and required supplementation with posterior instrumentation. It is not as strong or supportive as allograft bone