[Incorporation of nonvascularized auto- and allotransplanted bone into the site of bone defects]

It is generally accepted viewpoint that free bone grafts do not survive transplantation, that the incorporation of the autograft is faster and safer than the one of the allograft, and that the immunological processes disturb the process of revascularisation and reossification of the graft, although they stimulate the process of absorbtion. The process of graft incorporation into the host's bone was followed up in 8 dogs, i.e. 16 knees. In 10 knees the medial tibial condyle was replaced by autogenic implants made of patella, thickness of 6-8 mm. and fixed by Kirschner wire. The process of allograft incorporation was studied in 6 knees, where the medial tibial condyle was replaced by the donor's graft. The process of the graft incorporation was followed-up by x-ray studies and after sacrificing the animals during the interval starting from 2 months to a year since the operation had been performed, while in the allograft group the follow-up was during the interval starting from 1 up to 5 months. The obtained results point out that the incorporation of the bone grafts thinner that 1 cm happens within first 8-10 months after the operation. The process of incorporation during this period happens at almost the same speed in both groups. If there are no technical errors while implanting, practically all the grafts of this thickness will be incorporated into the host's bone, i.e. completely reosified and revascularized. The congruity of the joint and the rigidity of the fixation play the main role in the fate of the graft within the first months after the operation.