GRAFT INCORPORATION AFTER ACETABULAR AND FEMORAL IMPACTION GRAFTING WITH WASHED IRRADIATED ALLOGRAFT AND AUTOLOGOUS MARROW.

Abstract

Background: Rates of around only 40% graft incorporation have been reported when irradiated bone allograft is used during revision hip arthroplasty. In this series we washed fat from irradiated allograft and added 40% by volume of autologous marrow from the iliac crest before impaction grafting. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of graft incorporation in a consecutive series of patients who underwent this modified technique of impaction bone grafting.

Methods: 85 consecutive patients, including 51 acetabular and 59 femoral revisions were reviewed. Evidence of graft cortication and or trabeculation was recorded by zone over the period of radiographic follow up.

Results: Using washed irradiated allograft with autologous marrow, 96% (49/51) of acetabular and 90% (53/59) of femoral grafts showed incorporation in the majority or all zones. Most of these changes were apparent within 6 months of surgery. The average subsidence of the stem at mean follow up of 45 months was 1.28 mm. Of the 8 patients whose graft failed to incorporate, 2 had grafts removed for post operative infection and 3 had early reoperation for intraoperative fractures. Only 3 out of 85 patients failed to demonstrate bone incorporation in the majority of zones with out an obvious reason why.

Conclusions: The addition of autologous marrow to irradiated bone allograft during impaction grafting is a cheap and effective way of increasing the rate of bone incorporation. This series demonstrates over 90% bone incorporation, usually occurring within 6 months after surgery.