Altis Biologics (Pty) Ltd is a company specializing in the research and development of osteogenic biomaterials for use in skeletal regeneration therapies in man. The technological basis underlying Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix (OBM) are the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a family of growth factors capable of inducing new bone formation commencing shortly after implantation into human recipients. The company has also developed an injectable delivery system based entirely on bone matrix. The company also specializes in the purification of type I collagen from porcine bone matrix, which is used as delivery system for porcine BMP complex. Altis OBM is an implant material intended as an alternative or substitute to traditional bone graft products, which usually involve the harvest of bone from the patient's own hip, or which employ allograft donor bone supplied by bone tissue banks. Altis OBM is injected into the skeletal site requiring regeneration of new bone, without the need to perform a second bone graft operation. Altis OBM may offer a safe and effective alternative to traditional autogenous grafting procedures still in popular use today. WHAT IS BONE GRAFTING? Bone grafts are second only to blood products as the most common type of graft. Bone grafting is a technique whereby bone from the patient's own hip, or tissue banked bone from deceased donors is used to treat patients needing bone replacement and regeneration eg. trauma, non-healing bone fractures, bone voids, surgery and osteoporosis. Large costs are incurred world-wide each year on bone grafting procedures. The usefulness of bone grafting is however limited due to the difficulty in obtaining adequate amounts of human bone allograft material, inconsistent healing characteristics of individual grafts, and the dangers associated with a patient undergoing a second painful operation at the hip to harvest the bone graft. There is therefore a strong need for bone graft substitutes which can replace conventional bone grafts. Altis Biologics is aiming to offer surgeons a novel bone graft substitute in the form of its Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix. This implant performs the same function as bone grafts- it causes new bone to form when it is implanted in the patient. The implant also overcomes the risks associated with use of tissue-banked bone such as possible transmission of viruses (HIV, hepatitis). This breakthrough in bone induction technology exploits the remarkable bone inducing properties of BMPs to initiate the formation of new bone when delivered as an implant into the patient. The potential utility of Altis OBM is immediately obvious with respect to the following specific Skeletal conditions requiring bone healing and regeneration: non-union and malunion fractures spinal fusion skeletal trauma acceleration of bone tissue healing regeneration of periodontal bone around teeth tooth extraction socket filling treatment of osteoporosis fractures and bone deficiencies. regeneration of osteoporosis lesions and bone deficiencies. The use of Altis OBM in these areas is expected to reduce the amount of operative intervention and the number of inherent complications associated with using conventional bone grafting techniques. The conventional bone grafting technique involves a second painful and costly operation to harvest bone from the patient's hip. A second surgical team is required to perform the operation. The patient is exposed to the risk of an infection, and possible later orthopaedic complications related to the hip harvest; patients may suffer buttocks anaesthesia, a sensation of numbness and a 'pin and needles' sensation, as a direct result of the hip harvest. Often, patients have to spend a longer time in hospital, due to the increased morbidity of having undergone simultaneously two operations. The use of Altis OBM as a bone graft substitute may in cases overcome the disadvantages and dangers associated with traditional hip harvests. RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGES NON-UNION IN PATIENT AFTER CONVENTIONAL ATTEMPTS TO TREAT DEFECT HAD FAILED. SAME PATIENT TREATED WITH ALTIS OSTEOGENIC IMPLANT AND INTERNAL NAIL- COMPLETE HEALING AND VISIBLE NEW BONE FORMATION (ARROW)- 4 months post treatment.