Comparison of Bone Graft Materials: Part I. New Bone Formation With Autografts and Allografts Determined by Strontium‐85

Abstract

A direct comparison of the bone-forming abilities of autogenous osseous coagulum, autogenous bone blend, freeze-dried bone allograft and decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft was obtained. Defects were created in the calvaria of 35 guinea pigs [Cavia porcellus]. The graft materials were placed in porous nylon chambers and implanted into the defects. Empty nylon chambers served as the controls. Three days prior to sacrifice, each animal received an injection of 85Sr. The animals were killed in groups of 5 at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days. At sacrifice, a small section of ilium was removed from each animal. The samples were recovered, weighed and the uptake of 85Sr into new bone determined. An osteogenic index was obtained by dividing cpm/mg for each sample by cpm/mg of ilium. In this model system, decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft is evidently a graft material of high osteogenic potential while autogenous bone blend and osseous coagulum were of less potential and freeze-dried bone allograft even less.