Measurement of blood flow in rabbit bone transplants.

The rate of blood flow in free bone grafts in rabbits was monitored for 8 weeks after transplantation using the hydrogen washout technique. Blood flow was present at 2 weeks in both autografts and allografts, although the rate was significantly lower in the allograft compared to the autograft. Autografts showed a rapid increase from 2 to 3 weeks and a maximum flow 4 weeks after transplantation, whereas in allografts the rate of increase was slower. This study has demonstrated that the hydrogen washout technique is a useful method of monitoring blood flow and can be applied to clinical investigations.