Injury
Volume 40, Issue 12 , Pages 1260-1264, December 2009

Fresh-frozen vs. irradiated allograft bone in orthopaedic reconstructive surgery

  • D.J. Costain

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    • ,
  • R.W. Crawford

      Affiliations

    • Orthopaedic Research Unit, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: 5th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, Queensland, Australia 4032. Tel.: +61 7 3139 4481; fax: +61 7 3139 4043.

Received 2 February 2008; received in revised form 22 December 2008; accepted 19 January 2009.

Abstract 

The use of allograft bone is increasingly common in orthopaedic reconstruction procedures. The optimal method of preparation of allograft bone is subject of great debate. Proponents of fresh-frozen graft cite improved biological and biomechanical characteristics relative to irradiated material, whereas fear of bacterial or viral transmission warrants some to favour irradiated graft. Careful review of the literature is necessary to appreciate the influence of processing techniques on bone quality. Whereas limited clinical trials are available to govern the selection of appropriate bone graft, this review presents the argument favouring the use of fresh-frozen bone allograft as compared to irradiated bone.

Keywords: Allograft, Irradiation, Fresh-frozen, Impaction graft, Tissue processing

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PII: S0020-1383(09)00123-5

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.116

Injury
Volume 40, Issue 12 , Pages 1260-1264, December 2009

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