THE USE OF HOMOGENOUS BONE GRAFTS

A Preliminary Report on the Bone Bank

¹ New York Orthopaedic Hospital, New York, N. Y.

1. Homogenous bone may be used as a transplant under the same conditions as, or in conjunction with, autogenous bone.

2. The blood type has been shown to have no influence on the successful use of homogenous grafts of bone, nor does the Rh factor influence transplantation results.

3. Bone may be stored safely in sealed containers at from +2 degrees to +5 degrees centigrade, for periods up to three weeks. Bone may be preserved in sealed containers in the deep freezer at approximately -25 degrees centigrade for an indefinite period.

4. Microscopic studies of bone, removed from fused areas in which homogenous bone had been used, showed the grafts to be dead, but surrounded by connective tissue undergoing metaplasia and new-bone formation.

5. The success of homografts of bone has been shown by clinical results, by direct inspection of the fused area, and by roentgenographic examination.

6. Homografts of bone, available in a bone bank, will eliminate a second operation upon a normal ilium or tibia, with its possible complications; and will shorten the time of operation and of hospitalization.

7. Homogenous bone grafts were used in sixty-seven operations, with but four complications.

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