Advantages
- Available in different sizes.
- Not generally available as autograft.
- Can be trimmed to fit recipient site.
- Completely natural, biological repair – fuses with, and eventually replaced by, the recipient’s own bone.
Common Applications
- Limb-sparing (e.g., osteosarcoma cases)
- Significant bone loss (e.g., gun shot wounds, tumor)
- Fracture repair (e.g., non-unions with substantial resorption)
- Extensive cartilage loss or damage
Composition
Shaft sections are whole bone grafts that have one or both of the physes (ends) removed.
Whole bone grafts are intact, full length bone grafts.
Osteochondral allografts are fresh stored bone allografts with a viable cartilage surface. We use preservation methods for such grafts that have been developed and used for many years in human tissue banks. Additionally, vital dye assessments are performed on the day of shipping to document and report the viability of the chondrocytes in the allograft. The dimensions should be custom matched for your patient. Please call directly to discuss sizing and options.
Sizing: We have direct physical measurements of length and mid shaft diameter. When you provide us with radiographic measurements and physical characteristics (e.g. ideal weight) from your particular patient, we will identify the most closely matching options in our inventory.
Storage
Shaft sections and whole bones should be kept frozen (at least at -20°C) until ready for use. If stored at -20°C (or in a standard household freezer), they should be used within 6 months of receipt. If stored at -40°C or colder, the grafts can be stored for 5 years.