Since transmission of HIV through allogenic bone grafts has been estab
lished, the concept of cryopreservation of allogenic bone had to be re
considered. The strict guidlines of the scientific board of the Bundes
arzte-kammer of 1990 are very labour-, time- and money-intensive. We h
ave therefore moved to autoclaving allogenic cancellous bone. This is
harvested from femoral heads during THR in slices of 2 to 3 mm, then c
leaned under non-sterile conditions with a hard water jet followed by
an ultrasonic bath for approx. 20 minutes. The slices are then double
sealed individually and autoclaved at a temperature of 134 degrees C a
nd a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres. Storage is in sealable containers at
room temperature, so the material available at any time. Since the bo
ne tissue has been freed of most organic matter and therefore lost its
bone-specific antigenic structure, all that is left is the anorganic
component with its inimitable architecture. This treatment results in
a cancellous bone graft which is sterile, biocompatible and osteocondu
ctive. Biologically it is inferior to autogenic and cryopreserved bone
. Experimental and clinical studies show, however, that autoclaved can
cellous bone can be a suitable substitute in well-selected indications
. To elucidate the ultrastructural changes of the spongiosa and protei
ns induced by autoclaving further investigations are necessary. For ex
ample, the specific proteins involved need to be determined.