title: Fresh-frozen vs. irradiated allograft bone in orthopaedic reconstructive surgery.
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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Costain
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002102:Cadaver; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome