[Sterilization of biocompatible materials: which method to choose?].

Sterilization of biomaterials, in hospitals, must be considered as the re-sterilization (and not reuse) of devices: prostheses, implants, catheters... This practice is not allowed, according to the circular of may 14 th, 1986; however it is a necessity in various cases. It must be realised with an extreme care, after evaluation of the different methods of sterilization: steam, dry-heat, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde or ionizing radiations and of their effects on the behaviour of the biomaterial.