Extracorporeal irradiation and incorporation of bone grafts: Autogeneic cortical grafts studied in rats

Abstract

The incorporation of resected, extracorporeally irradiated (1, 5, 25 and 50 kGy) and orthotopically reim-planted autogeneic cortical bone was investigated in 116 adult Wistar rats. 7 mm-long diaphyseal segments of the tibia were resected, irradiated and re-implanted using K-wire osteosynthesis. Autogeneic fresh grafts served as controls. Graft healing was evaluated by radiography and histomorphometric study at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. At 3 weeks, two thirds of the 50 kGy irradiated grafts were fractured and therefore the series with this dose was interrupted because of mechanical graft insufficiency. After 3 and 6 weeks there were no statistically significant differences among the control group and 1 or 5 kGy irradiated grafts. The healing of 25 kGy irradiated grafts was delayed from the sixth week onwards and continued until the end of the experiment at 12 weeks (50% reduction of incorporation). The incorporation of 1 and 5 kGy irradiated grafts showed a 16% (1 kGy) to 24% (5 kGy) delay at 12 weeks, compared to autogeneic fresh grafts. 1 and 5 kGy irradiated autogeneic bone grafts retain most of their biological potential. Resection, extracorporeal irradiation and reimplantation of bone tumors may therefore be a possible alternative to allografting.