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The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 81-B, Issue 2 | Pages 333 - 335
1 Mar 1999
Palmer SH Gibbons CLMH Athanasou NA

We analysed the histological findings in 1146 osteoarthritic femoral heads which would have been considered suitable for bone-bank donation to determine whether pathological lesions, other than osteoarthritis, were present. We found that 91 femoral heads (8%) showed evidence of disease. The most common conditions noted were chondrocalcinosis (63 cases), avascular necrosis (13), osteomas (6) and malignant tumours (one case of low-grade chondrosarcoma and two of well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma). There were two with metabolic bone disease (Paget’s disease and hyperparathyroid bone disease) and four with inflammatory (rheumatoid-like) arthritis.

Our findings indicate that occult pathological conditions are common and it is recommended that histological examination of this regularly used source of bone allograft should be included as part of the screening protocol for bone-bank collection.