The effect of frozen irradiated bone homografts on the healing of defects in the mandible and femur of the rat.

Numerous studies have been carried out to determine the effect of various types of bone transplants on the healing pattern of experimentally produced defects in animals (Maatz, Lentz and Graf 1954; Burwell 1963; Heipel, Chase and Herndon 1963; Melcher and Irving 1963; Buring and Urist 1967; Raina 1968). These have repeatedly shown that autogenous bone grafts are better than homogenous and heterogenous bone grafts. In clinical practice it is not always possible to use autogenous grafts, and in such instances homogenous grafts are the next best variety. The advent of tissue banks has made readily available stored homogenous bone which is often irradiated for sterilisation. Since March 1964 some 1,000 cases have been treated using frozen homogenous bone prepared by the Johannesburg Tissue Bank. This study is an experimental investigation of the effect of frozen irradiated homogenous bone prepared by the Johannesburg Tissue Bank on the healing mechanism in circumscribed defects in albino rats.