MASSIVE ALLOGRAFTS STERILIZED BY IRRADIATION - CLINICAL-RESULTS

From 1984 to 1988 we implanted 127 massive allografts irradiated with a dose of 25 000 grays. These were reviewed at a minimum follow-up of three years to determine the effect of irradiation on infection, the c omplications and the functional result. No bacteriological infection w as seen in the 44 patients who had allografts for revision of joint ar throplasty or for a tumour with no adjuvant therapy. For the 83 patien ts who also had chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both for a bone tumour , the rate of infection was 13%. The major mechanical complications we re nonunion in seven grafts (5.5%) and fracture in eight (6%). These r ates do not differ greatly from those reported for non-irradiated graf ts. Our results suggest that irradiation, which remains the most conve nient and acceptable method of sterilisation, does not jeopardise the clinical results.