Radioactive cobalt has been proved to be an effective means of sterilizing bone transplants. When combined with a freeze-drying process, radiation sterilization utilizing radioactive cobalt has proved an effective method of maintaining a bone-bank.
It has been found that irradiated bone transplants function satisfactorily both experimentally and clinically.
In 104 surgical procedures in which irradiated homogenous-bone transplants were used, five postoperative wound infections occurred. The irradiated bone transplants were not felt to be the source of these infections.
The encouraging over-all clinical results in 104 operative procedures prompt continued use of irradiated homogenous-bone transplants.