Calcium phosphates as bone graft extenders

Although iliac crest autograft is the gold standard for fusion, many patients experience permanent pain at the donor site that is likely underestimated in the literature. As the population requiring reconstructive spine surgery increases, so does the need for a successful substitute for autologous bone. One such large surface bone graft substitute that has gained polularity in spine surgery is calcium phosphate. However, the characteristics of various calcium phosphate products have not been previously reviewed in the literature. Thus, this article presents a comparative analysis of the physiochemical attributes of calcium phosphate materials used in spine surgery.