Bone & Tendon Allografts
Bone grafting has come a long way since a Dutch surgeon attempted his first procedure in 1688. Bone is the second most frequently transplanted human tissue - second only to transfused blood - and bone transplantation is essential in Orthopaedics.
A graft which comes from a patient’s own body is called an Autograft. If a graft comes from another human being, it is called an Allograft, which is the area of interest for Australian Biotechnologies. A graft that comes from another species is called a Xenograft.
Allograft musculoskeletal tissues (bones & tendons) are tissues that have been retrieved from donors both deceased individuals and living (e.g. total hip replacement patients) who have donated their musculoskeletal tissues for use in the treatment of living patients. Allografts are banked throughout the world and offer proven qualities such as:
* Decreased morbidity since there is no need for a second surgical site
* Decreased operating time, hence a saving of money
* Decreased hospital stay, also saving money
Allografts are aseptically processed in a controlled environment. The primary objective of Allograft processing is to render them safe to use for the receiving (host) patient whilst maintaining or enhancing their biomechanical and biological integrity. Allograft tissues are resorbed and replaced by natural healing processes within the host’s body, such that over time the donated tissue is completely replaced by the host’s own tissue. Allografts are not subject to rejection by the host such that anti-rejection drug treatments are not required.
About 15% of caucasians are RhD negative (less for other races). Female allograft recipients, of child bearing age or less, should have their rhesus factor checked by their surgeon prior to surgery. Australian Biotechnologies keeps Allografts manufactured from RhD negative donors aside for this purpose. If no RhD negative Allograft is available an Rh immune globulin can be administered at the time of transplant. Patients should be guided by their treating surgeon in this regard.
Allograft is used to fill bony defects, promote healing of non-united fractures, replace tumour affected bone, replace tendons (typically in knee reconstructions), augment arthrodesis (or fusion) of the spine and other surgical procedures requiring bone grafting.
Australian Biotechnologies has provided over 3000 Allografts with no incidents of infection.