A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF PHYSICAL PARAMETERS, BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES, AND STATISTICAL CORRELATIONS OF ILIAC CREST BONE WEDGES USED IN SPINAL-FUSION SURGERY .4. EFFECT OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON MECHANICAL AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES

The effects of gamma irradiation on mechanical and material properties of iliac crest wedges used in spinal fusion surgery were studied usin g uniaxial compression testing. The irradiated iliac crest wedges were exposed to 2-2.5 mrad as fresh-frozen and freeze-dried tissues. There were no significant differences in mechanical or material properties of the iliac crest wedges exposed to dosages of 2-2.5 mrad when compar ed to the nonirradiated wedges. It is suggested that 2-2.5 mrad is an acceptable dose for gamma irradiation sterilization of iliac crest wed ges used in spinal fusion surgery and that these tissues may be treate d at either the preprocessing or postprocessing stage of wedge product ion.