title: BOVINE LYOPHILIZED GRAFT (BLG): HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON BEHAVIOR IN HUMANS AFTER 49 MONTHS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the histological behavior of bovine lyophilized grafts (BLG) produced according to a protocol developed by the first author, in humans over a 49-month period by measuring the graft/bone neoformation ratio in relation to the total mineralized area.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case series involving 12 patients: eight females (66%) and four males (34%), totaling 13 biopsies. BLG was used, and surgical reintervention was subsequently required during the period 2000 to 2011. The slides produced were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), were analyzed by a pathologist and were digitized for the proposed evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 57 years and the mean follow-up was 49 months (range: 6-115). The average proportion of BLG was 42% (range: 13-85) and neoformed bone, 58% (range: 15-87) in relation to the total area mineralized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the BLG used presented osteoconductive characteristics and biocompatibility. BLG is a therapeutic option that can be used in orthopedic surgery in which bone defects need to be filled.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist, Hip Surgery Group, Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Professor of the Graduate Program in Surgery at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Doctor of Surgery, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Galia
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist with residency completed at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Head, Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist with residency completed at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Müller
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist, Hip Surgery Group, Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Professor of the Graduate Program in Surgery at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Master of Surgery, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazilo.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosito
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist, Hip Surgery Group, Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Professor of the Graduate Program in Surgery at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Doctor of Surgery, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto Souza
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macedo
keywords: Bone Transplantation; Freeze Drying; Human