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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone banking in a community hospital.
Geert Meermans1, Jaak Roos, Lieven Hofkens
1AZ St. Jozef Hospital, Turnhout, Belgium. geertmeermans@hotmail.com
Acta Orthopaedica Belgica
|February 12, 2008
Summary
Establishing a local bone bank in community hospitals is a safe and cost-effective way to meet the demand for bone allografts in orthopaedic surgery. This practice ensures graft availability and supports a wider range of procedures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Hospital Administration
Background:
- Major orthopaedic operations are increasingly performed in community hospitals.
- The use of bone allografts in these procedures necessitates reliable local sources.
- Local bone banking can serve as a critical resource for such institutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the indications and outcomes of allografts sourced from a local bone bank.
- To assess the financial viability of establishing and maintaining a bone bank in a community hospital setting.
- To determine the safety and practicality of local bone banking for orthopaedic practices.
Main Methods:
- Review of 131 allografts stored in the institution's bone bank.
- Analysis of graft indications, storage, and discard rates.
- Postoperative follow-up to assess graft incorporation, infection rates, and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Only 20 out of 131 stored allografts were discarded.
- Successful graft incorporation was observed in most cases, with only one instance of graft failure.
- No superficial or deep postoperative infections occurred, and all intraoperative cultures were negative.
- Financial costs associated with bone banking were found to be reasonable.
Conclusions:
- Local bone banking in community hospitals is a safe and practical solution for meeting the demand for bone allografts.
- This initiative supports small orthopaedic practices by ensuring graft availability and broadening the scope of treatable conditions.
- Bone banking contributes to the cost-effectiveness and expanded capabilities of orthopaedic units in community settings.
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