CLINICAL EVALUATION OF FREEZE-DRIED BONE GRAFTS

¹ Orthopaedic Service, United States Naval Hospital and Tissue Bank, Naval Medical School, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
² Orihopuedic Service, United States Naval Hospital and Tissue Bank, Naval Medical School, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

In the past four years, 125 freeze-dried homogenous bone-grafting procedures have been performed. In ninety-nine patients there was an adequate follow-up; there were eighty-four surgical successes and fifteen surgical failures. Upon analysis, six were listed as technical failures, and nine (9.2 per cent.) were classed as graft failures.

The authors now use freeze-dried bone grafts regularly. The technique avoids additional incisions; the operative time is shortened; and select grafting material—either cancellous or cortical—is abundantly available.

Experimental evidence that freeze-dried homogenous bone grafts heal at a slower rate than do autogenous grafts has not been clinically appreciable thus far. There is no clinical evidence of untoward immunological response.

Central control, bacteriological standardization, long-term storage at room temperatures, and ease of shipment are significant advantages in the light of the needs of military surgery. The process can be advantageously used in large-scale cooperative civilian ventures.

The freeze-drying process has the disadvantage of high initial cost in equipment, time, and technical personnel. The process is not practical for adoption by the average hospital.

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