[Microradiographic aspects of massive bone allografts in man]

Two stored frozen massive bone allografts were implanted after resection of femoral and tibial tumours in two patients. Eighteen and thirty months later the authors had the opportunity to make a microscopic examination of the grafts. The cortical bone grafts were incorporated by the classic "creeping substitution." The repair of the cortical transplant was very incomplete and showed large resorption cavities. The newly-formed living bone was not fully mineralized. These phenomena related only to the outer area of the cortical bone, the dead intra-cortical area being left unaffected by the process. Cancellous bone graft repair was faster and more efficient.