THE OSTEOGENIC POTENTIAL OF RIB AUTOGRAFTS CAN BE PRESERVED IN CULTURE

Study Design. This was an experimental study to compare various method s of storing rib autograft between stages of spinal surgery. Objective . The authors' goal was to determine the optimum conditions for storin g bone graft, while preserving its osteogenic potential. Summary of Ba ckground Data. It never has been demonstrated that osteoblastic functi on can be preserved after bone graft is stored. Other researchers have shown preservation of cellular function, but not its nature. Methods. Excised rib was stored in one of several ways: in culture medium at - 196 C, 4 C, or 37 C, or in saline at 4 C for 2 weeks and then culture d at 37 C. Any cells produced were characterized using standard techni ques. Results. Bone stored at 37 C and - 196 C retained its osteogenic potential. Bone stored at 4 C in saline did not. Bone stored at 4 C i n culture medium was intermediate in its preservation of osteogenic ca pacity. Conclusions. Bone stored under suitable conditions retains ost eogenic potential, and when reimplanted will add osteogenic cells to t he fusion mass.