ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2006 June;57(3):175-82

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Proposal of a new radiologic follow-up form to value autografts and allografts, whether structural or filling

Mosetto F., Albertini U., Faletti C., Boffano M., Sacco F., Piana R., Seccia A., Gino G. C., Brach del Prever E. M.

¹ Dipartimento di Ortopedia e Traumatologia Unità Operativa Dipartimentale di Chirurgia Ortopedica Oncologica e Ricostruttiva ASO CTO, CRF, MA, Torino 2 Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, ASO CTO, CRF, MA, Torino

Aim. Radiographic evaluation for bone graft is not standardized: some Authors use qualitative scale, others assess bone remodelling for specified type of graft or for different surgical procedure. Simple, easy to be used and prognostic score are essential for surgeons and Musculoskeletal Tissue Banks (MTB). Aim of the study was to suggest a new follow-up form applicable to the different type of grafts, whether structural or filling, easy to be used in different orthopaedic procedures.
Methods. Different radiologic evaluation scale available in literature were analyzed. They were searched through informatic search engines (OVID, Scopus, Scirus) and consulting traditional library. The follow-up form today in use at the Piedmont Regional MTB was analyzed, too. A new score is suggested.
Results. Eight evaluation scales were found in literature: 4 concerning cancellous grafts, 1 concerning segmental corticocancellous grafts and 3 concerning massive allograft (2 for intercalary grafts and 1 for osteoarticular allografts). The form of Piedmont Regional MTB uses a descriptive evaluation without quantitative, prognostic data. The new original score contains a six degree radiographic scale based on the two proiection radiographs concerning graft incorporation or resorption. It could be used for all type of grafts and in different surgical procedures.
Conclusion. The suggested score could represent a good instrument for the clinical follow-up of patient with allografts in the daily medical practice. Its usefullness and effectiveness should be evaluated in the next future.