Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Mechanical Properties of Morselised Allograft

INTRODUCTION: Impaction grafting is a common procedure in the reconstruction of cavity defects. Concerns regarding sterility of the graft material may require gamma irradiation prior to implantation. The grafts’ mechanical properties play an important role in surgical handling and in-vivo response. Gamma irradiation adversely affects the mechanical properties in a dose dependent fashion in cortical bone from human femurs [1] as well as in cylindrical specimens of porcine cancellous bone [2]. However, Zhang et al., [3] reported no effect of gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties of iliac crest wedges. Bavadekar et al., [4] using morselised femoral head allografts reported the presence of cartilage remnants decreased the stiffness, while the inclusion of cortical bone from the femoral neck did not affect the impaction and stiffness. The effect of gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties of morselised allograft has not been well studied. The effect of gamma irradiation dose on the stiffness and compaction of morselised bone grafts from the femoral heads of human donors was examined in this experiment.