Bone grafts are used during surgical procedures for a variety of reasons. The grafts are usually taken from the patient’s own healthy body or from frozen, donated bone. There are also bone graft substitutes that can be useful. Typically bone grafts are used in four situations. Fractures with a loss of bone or when healing is delayed causing a non-union may benefit from a bone graft to promote healing of the area. A bone cyst with a large defect can be filled with a bone graft to give support while healing occurs. Third, if an arthrodesis is being performed, a bone graft can bridge a joint to prevent movement. Finally a bone graft can be used for a lengthening procedure, as is done for brachymetatarsia in the foot.