The clinical use of autologous marrow to improve osteogenic potential of bone grafts in pediatric orthopedics.

The high osteogenic potential of living autologous marrow cells can be combined with foreign bone to enhance new bone formation. Xenogeneic bone was combined with autologous red marrow and used in 23 patients aged 5-17 years. Kiel bone was impregnated with marrow aspirated from the iliac crest and, apart from one case of lesion recurrence, gave excellent results in all patients under conditions covering a wide range of indications for bone grafting. Unlimited supplies of xenograft bone and other bone substitutes can be rendered osteogenic by a simple procedure. Combining fresh autologous red marrow with other types of bank bone allograft or xenograft, or even with biological or synthetic biocompatible material that favors the induction of new bone, may provide even better results.