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Biomechanical properties of sterilized human auditory ossicles
A D Speirs1, M A Hotz, T R Oxland
1M.E. Muller Institute for Biomechanics, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Journal of Biomechanics
|May 18, 1999
Summary
Sterilizing human middle ear bones with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or steam significantly alters their mechanical properties. NaOH is the most suitable sterilization method for ossicle allografts among those studied.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Bone allografts require sterilization to prevent disease transmission.
- The impact of sterilization on the mechanical integrity of middle ear bones is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of different sterilization methods on the mechanical behavior of human middle ear bones.
- To determine the most appropriate sterilization technique for ossicle allografts.
Main Methods:
- Mechanical testing using a traditional platens compression test on synthetic and human ossicles.
- Sterilization of human ossicles using 1 N NaOH, 0.9% LpH solution, or steam at 134°C.
- Comparison of mechanical properties (stiffness, ultimate force) against untreated control specimens.
Main Results:
- The compression test was reproducible for small specimens.
- NaOH and steam sterilization significantly reduced stiffness and ultimate force compared to controls (p<0.05).
- LpH treatment did not significantly affect mechanical properties.
Conclusions:
- Sterilization methods, particularly NaOH and steam, impact the mechanical integrity of middle ear bone allografts.
- 1 N NaOH is the most appropriate sterilization method among those tested for ossicle allografts, as LpH is not medically approved.