What process does freeze-dried bone utilize for healing?

Freeze-dried bone primarily promotes healing through the process of osteoconduction. This means that the scaffold provided by the freeze-dried bone serves as a structural framework that facilitates the migration, attachment, and proliferation of osteogenic cells, such as osteoblasts, in the area where bone healing is required.

The freeze-drying process preserves the mineral and protein structure of the bone matrix, allowing it to maintain its integrity and support new bone growth. As the body's natural healing response occurs, the cells can utilize this platform to create new bone tissue. Osteoconduction is essential in bone grafting procedures since it ensures that the surrounding living bone can incorporate and form healthy bone over the scaffold provided by the freeze-dried material.

In contrast, osteoinduction refers to the process by which certain materials can promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts, thus leading to new bone formation. While freeze-dried bone may have some osteoinductive properties, its primary role in healing is through osteoconduction. Osteogenesis refers to the formation of new bone by osteoblasts and is a process that occurs during bone healing but does not directly describe the activity of the freeze-dried graft itself. Osteoporosis, on the other