Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were (1) to analyze the total number of interventions with autologous or allogeneic bone transplantation as well as biomaterials, (2) to investigate the different types of biomaterials, autologous and allogeneic bone transplantations and (3) to analyze the additional use of an antibiotic additive in biomaterials. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Federal Statistical Office for the year 2018. The surgery and procedure codes 5‑784 "bone transplantation and transposition" and 5‑785 "implantation of alloplastic bone substitutes" were used to analyze the procedure frequency of implantation of biomaterials, such as calcium phosphate ceramics, calcium sulphate, calcium phosphate cements and polymethyl methacrylate as well as autologous and allogeneic bone for defect reconstruction of the extremities and pelvis. RESULTS: In 2018 a total of 99,863 procedures were performed using autografts (54,784, 55%), biomaterials (23,838, 24%) and allografts (21,241, 21%). For both autografts and allografts cancellous bone grafting was used most frequently (77% and 79%, respectively). For biomaterials, ceramics (42%) were used more frequently than bone cements (37%, other biomaterials 21%). In 16,027 cases (67%) with biomaterials no antibiotic supplement was used. Antibiotic supplementation was mainly used for bone cements (6612 cases, 75%). CONCLUSION: In 2018 bone transplants or biomaterials were used in a considerable number of the 99,863 bone defect reconstruction procedures. Autologous bone was used in more than half of the cases (55%), biomaterials in approximately one quarter (24%) and allogenic bone in approximately one fifth (21%). Ceramics (42%) were more often used as biomaterials than cements (37%). The addition of antibiotics was mainly used with cements (75%).