Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Histology of vancomycin-supplemented impacted bone allografts in revision total hip arthroplasty.

Buttaro MA, Morandi A, Rivello HG, Piccaluga F

The Hip Surgery Unit Institute of Orthopaedics Carlos E. Ottolenghi, Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina. cadera@hospitalitaliano.org.ar

Vancomycin-supplemented allografts provide biological restoration of bone stock and sound fixation with a low incidence of re-infection. Experimental incorporation of these grafts is similar to allografts without vancomycin. However, the underlying biology remains unknown. We report the first histological observations of vancomycin-supplemented impacted bone allografts in two reconstructions performed 14 and 20 months after revision surgery because of a periprosthetic fracture. Areas of active bone remodelling (creeping substitution), as well as calcified bone trabeculae and graft particles embedded in dense fibrous tissue, were observed with osteoid and fibroconnective tissue surrounding polymethylmethacrylate particles.These pathological findings are similar to those reported in allografts without vancomycin and support the hypothesis that high levels of vancomycin do not affect the incorporation of bone graft.

Published 5 December 2005 in J Bone Joint Surg Br, 87(12): 1684-7.
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