Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study is to answer the question, whether local femoral head bone banks are still suitable and how to manage and make them safe. Methods: Surgical donors (THR) are selected by medical history, clinical examination and internationally standardized serological testing. Femoral heads are prucured during THR under OR-sterile conditions. Two different viral and bacterial inactivation methods are performed regularly. Either heads are devided into halves and then autoclaved in an open sterile hot and cold resistant box (121°C,20min,1,4 bar) or entirely processed in a closed sterile box in a water bath (80°C,100min-Marburger bone bank system) and stored in a refrigerator (−80°C). Validation of inactivation has been performed using measurement of the temperature in the center of the bones. Results: 867 bone allografts processed in the described method have been transplanted between 1993 and 2001 in our hospital. Autoclaved grafts have been used in limited bone defects with good surrounding bone stock quality. Water bath treated entire femoral heads have been used in total joint revision surgery. Temperature measurement in autoclaved bones confirmed the biological validation performed by Ph. Chiron (EAMST 1993). Water bath treatment has previously been validated. These grafts proved to be safe, effective and affordable and avoid the higher infection risks of bones procured from organ donors. By the described method we are able to meet a big part of the bone allograft demand in our institution. Conclusions: Using the described method local femoral head bone banks can procure safe and reasonable bone allografts from living surgical donors (THR). Allografts from organ donors cause higher risks and should be used where structural grafts are needed.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
