title: Bone healing and spinal fusion.
abstract: Bone is a tissue that constantly undergoes deposition, resorption of stromal matrix, and remodeling. These processes may be altered by a variety of chemical, mechanical, cellular, and pathological mechanisms. Understanding the physiology of bone healing and the mechanisms affecting this process is important not only when evaluating normal skeletal development but also when initiating fracture repair. Because the ultimate success of spinal fusions involves creation of an osseous union, we focus this review on the anatomy and physiology of bone under physiological conditions, normal bone healing and mechanisms that alter it, and available adjuvant therapies that may enhance healing potential in a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. jpilitsis@neurosurgery.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Julie G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pilitsis
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Setti S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rengachary
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*