EFFECT OF ETHYLENE-OXIDE STERILIZATION ON HUMAN DEMINERALIZED BONE

Demineralized human bone used as an autologous bone graft substitute i s ethylene oxide sterilized, which is reported to reduce the bone's os teoinductive potential. To determine the minimum sterilization time re quired and the effect of ethylene oxide on bone's osteoinductive capac ity and chemical structure, samples were exposed to ethylene oxide for different times (5-240 min). Results showed that 1 h exposure sterili zed the bone (assessed by Attests(TM)). This exposure time reduced the bone's osteoinductive potential and caused surface ultrastructural ch anges. These findings raise questions concerning the suitability of et hylene oxide for sterilizing demineralized human bone.