SOLVENT-DRIED AND GAMMA-IRRADIATED TENDON ALLOGRAFTS IN RATS - MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

We examined solvent-dried, gamma-irradiated (SD-R) allografts and fres h-frozen (FF) allografts mechanically and morphologically. Before tran splantation, FF grafts were more than six times stronger than SD-R gra fts. After four weeks, the tensile strength was about the same in both groups. At 24 weeks only collagen fibrils of small diameter were obse rved in the SD-R grafts while in FF grafts fibrils of small and interm ediate diameter were seen. Clinically, we suggest that SD-R grafts cou ld be used as a favourable alternative to FF grafts if care was taken regarding their initial mechanical weakness.