What is primarily responsible for osteoconduction during bone healing?

Osteoconduction refers to the process by which bone grafting materials provide a scaffold that supports the proliferation and migration of bone cells during bone healing. The primary factor responsible for osteoconduction is the presence of bone cells from the adjacent osseous tissue. These cells, including osteoblasts and osteoclasts, play a critical role in the formation and remodeling of new bone, as they utilize the scaffold provided by the graft material and synthesize new bone matrix in the healing area.

While other factors like blood supply and growth factors are important for overall healing and provide support, they do not specifically facilitate the osteoconduction process to the same extent as bone cells. Muscle tissue and skin healing contribute to the healing environment but do not directly impact the scaffold function necessary for bone regeneration. Therefore, the involvement of bone cells from adjacent osseous tissue is fundamentally essential for facilitating osteoconduction.