[Experimental studies of thermal disinfection and sterilization of allogeneic bone transplants and their effects on biological viability].

Thermal energy (80 degrees) for the disinfection of cancellous allogenic bone grafts was employed, and it proved to be an advantageous, safe and easily accessible method. The effects of this treatment on biological values were examined in terms of biomechanical and biodynamic (graft incorporation) loss of the treated grafts versus the autoclaved and untreated samples. Given the thermolability of the pathogens in question, the thermal approach presented here has the advantage of being readily controllable. The lack of toxic or mutagenic risks through this method and its accessibility represent further advantages. In thermal treatment of bone allografts, it is essential that one knows the thermoconductivity of the bone sample and that one can demonstrate pathogen inactivation through the entire graft volume. All of the parameters in the 80 degrees C group that were measured in this study indicate clear biological superiority over the autoclaved group. A newly developed thermoincubator is introduced for gentler disinfection of allogenic bone grafts and it inactivates common vegetative pathogens as well as HIV. It is still necessary to conduct serological screening for hepatitis antigens in the donor pool, however. Based on these results, we conclude that the clinical use of autoclaved allogenic bone grafts needs to be reviewed and possibly limited.