Effects of Different Storage Media, Temperatures and Times on Osteoblast Preservation in Autogenous Bone Grafts: A Histomorphometrical Analysis

Autogenous bone graft is the gold standard for bone reconstruction. osteogenic cells must be kept viable in graft for a successful procedure. In extracorporeal preservation of grafts during surgery three different factors may influence the quality of grafts. These factors include temperature, storage medium and time period.

In this study we evaluated the effects of different storage media, temperatures and times on osteoblast count in autogenous bone grafts, preserved extracorporeally.

Samples were obtained from iliac crest region in a goat. The grafts were preserved in 36 groups of different storage time, temperature and medium. Samples were histomorphometrically analysed to determine osteoblast count as the criteria of graft quality.

In almost all samples room temperature was the most and incubator was the least favorable storage temperatures. In grafts preserved in room temperature no difference was noted between normal saline and ringer lactate solution and in almost all of the samples autologous blood and dry environment were more favorable media than ringer lactate solution. The effects of time period of storage highly depended on the combination of temperature and solution.

the results demonstrated that for preserving as many osteoblasts as possible in bone grafts, the best temperature is room temperature and the least favorable temperature is incubator. Also the best medium for graft storage is blood, which shows better results than normal saline and ringer lactate solution when bone fragments are preserved in room temperature.