Multicenter trial of Collagraft as bone graft substitute.

Collagraft (Zimmer and Collagen Corporation) consists of a mixture of porous beads composed of 60% hydroxyapatite and 40% tricalcium phosphate ceramic and fibrillar collagen. When mixed with autogenous bone marrow, it serves as an effective bone graft substitute. Since September 1986, this material has been used in a multiclinic prospective trial, randomized against cancellous iliac crest autografts in the treatment of long bone fractures. To date, 267 patients have entered this study with 128 patients receiving cancellous autograft and 139 patients receiving Collagraft. At 6- and 12-month follow-ups, Collagraft appears to function as well as autogenous graft when used in the treatment of acute long bone fractures.