[Bone graft osteogenesis -- fact or fiction?].

It has been argued in this journal (Souza-Ramos, 1980) that the term "bone graft" is inappropriate, as the cells of a transplanted autologous fragment of bone do not contribute directly to new bone formation. In the present paper, experimental evidence that the living cells of an autologous bone graft can contribute directly to osteogenesis is discussed and it is concluded that, although the graft osteocytes do not play a part in new bone formation, endosteal and periosteal cells do so. Thus a bone graft is a living tissue whose cells can make a direct contribution to healing.