[The fate of cancellous bone grafts after irradiation (author's transl)]

It is often necessary to reconstruct the bony defects that result from the resection of bone tumours with cortico-cancellous bone grafts. In addition, post-operative radiotherapy is often given to prevent tumour recurrence. We have attempted to show that the rational use of radiotherapy after the insertion of a bone graft does not endanger the rehabilitation of the graft. We do not know of any clinical publication related to this subject. We are thus reporting eight cases of irradiated cortico-cancellous grafts which were given precise doses of irradiation and we have been able to draw the following conclusions: a) when doses of 4 000 Rads or less were given, there was no delay in graft consolidation, b) when doses of more than 6 000 Rads were used, graft rehabilitation was jeopardised. c) it is possible that 6 000 Rads given over a limited area will not endanger the graft but we have only one example. We have reviewed the literature concerning experimental studies on the progress of bone grafts, the effect of irradiation on normal bone and on cortico-cancellous grafts. The experiments have been performed must frequently in vitro and in vivo on small laboratory animals. The conclusions drawn from these studies agree with our clinical impressions: following irradiation the osteogenic activity of a cortico-cancellous graft and of normal bone are the same. They are subjected to the same risks and the same complications.