Most anterior cervical decompressions therefore are followed by insertion of a structural interbody spacer such as a bone graft from the patient's iliac crest (autograft) or a bone graft from a cadaver (allograft). The "gold standard" for aiding healing in spinal fusion surgeries is the harvesting of autograft from the patient's iliac crest and placing it in and around the segments of the spine that are intended to be fused. Autograft is considered the "gold standard" because it contains the essential elements required for successful bone grafting: osteogenesis, osteoconduction, and osteoinduction.