[Bone banks in the FRG. Results of a survey]

In a nationwide survey, 1350 departments of general surgery, trauma surgery, and orthopedic surgery were approached in an attempt to determine how many surgeons use bone grafts and how they manage their bone banks; 961 responded to the postal enquiry. Bone banks are currently in use in 471 departments. The storage temperature varies between 0 degrees C and -30 degrees C in more than 50%. In 90% bone is stored for no longer than 12 months. In only 6 bone banks secondary sterilization of the bone is performed. In 1 year, 71,000 autogeneic and 25,000 allogeneic bone grafts are performed. A further 18,000 per year could be performed if bone grafts were available. We discuss the results of the survey and present an overview of the current problems concerning storage temperature and adjuvant local antibiotics, the role of HIV in bone banking, and the possibilities opened up by secondary sterilization.