[Experimental studies on pasteurized autogenous bone graft].

Previous studies on hyperthermia have suggested that pasteurization makes tumors necrotic. Based on this assumption, replacement with a pasteurized autogenous bone graft after resection of a malignant bone tumor was deemed feasible for reconstruction. However, the extent of osteoinductive activity as well as mechanical strength of pasteurized bone was not clear. Consequently, experimental studies were carried out to test osteoinductivity and mechanical strength of pasteurized bone compared to autoclaved, boiled, and fresh bone. A summary of the results follows. Autoclaved ilium of rabbits resulted in degeneration of the bone material, and grafts were absorbed with little new bone formation and union. In contrast, the structures of pasteurized bones were preserved and the grafts were gradually replaced with viable bone in a manner similar to that of fresh bone graft. Bending and torsion tests of rat femurs indicated that the mechanical strength of autoclaved and boiled bones decreased significantly compared to fresh bones, whereas the mechanical strength of pasteurized bones was similar to that of fresh bones. These results demonstrated that pasteurized autogenous bone grafting can be a useful method for reconstruction after resection of malignant bone tumors.