title: The bridging of large osteoperiosteal gaps using 'Decalbone'.
abstract: 'Decalbone' was prepared by partial decalcification of human bones obtained from recently amputated specimens. It was then stored in 80 to 90% ethanol in a domestic refrigerator. The decalbone was used to fill large osteoperiosteal gaps in 25 patients. The commonest lesion was a giant cell tumour (21 cases) and various long bones were affected. There were 6 failures with recurrence of the tumour in 3 and uncontrolled infection in 3. The remaining 19 cases were followed up for from 2 1/2 to 7 years. In 10 the decalbone incorporated well, but further reconstructive procedures were needed in 9. Our studies showed that incorporation began at around 6 to 9 months and was complete at about 2 years in the upper limb and 4 years in the lower limb. There was no clinical evidence of an immune response.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003648:Decalcification Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011859:Radiography; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous