[The bone bank of the University Clinic in Navarra]

The Bone bank at the University Clinic is described along with its three units: Electrical freezer (-40 degrees). Liquid nitrogen freezer (-197 degrees). Temperature programmer descend. The first unit is used for the preservation of cancellous bone, for a limited lapse of time; the second unit is employed for preserving cortical grafts for an unlimited period. The third unit allows to control the temperature descend rate, in order to preserve the viability of chondrocytes in grafts including epiphyseal ends. Clinical applications of bone grafts are currently enlarging in areas such as tumour surgery, spine surgery and arthrodesis and reconstructive procedures of the hip joint.