[Allogeneic bone transplantation. Indications--preservation--results]

For 15 years the University Department of Traumatology Freiburg i.Br. is using deep frozen preserved allogenous bone grafts. Organization and service of the "bone bank" are standardized and simple. Basing on long experience the following indications for this technique have been developed: fresh fractures à deux étages, comminuted and compression fractures of long tubular bones that were stabilized operatively by plate-osteosynthesis showing smaller or bigger osseous defects, furthermore basic defects of the acetabulum with total hip replacement. Suppositions for the transplantation of allogenous cancellous bone are: well vascularized bed without infect, sufficient amount of cancellous bone and no disturbing movement of the bone at the place of transplantation. The results are excellent if one pays attention to these suppositions. Open fractures and local infections are absolute contraindications. As deep frozen preserved cancellous bone is always and sufficient available it is a precious help especially in polytraumatized patients. So the deposits of autogenous cancellous bone can be reserved for special problems. The little prolonged time of consolidation is only observed in the first phase until about the 20th week, after that time there are no significant differences to autogenous cancellous bone.