Allografts
Allografts are the most frequently used alternatives to autografts in spine surgery. They are bones transplanted from one individual to another and are used to circumvent the problems encountered with autografts. 13, 44, 95, 146 Fresh, frozen, lyophilized, and demineralized bone matrix from allografts are used clinically.

Allografts are readily available and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They can provide immediate support and minimize the use of stabilization hardware or braces. Bone allografts can replace missing structures and become incorporated into the spine. They provide biologic scaffolding that is gradually replaced with the patient's own bone.

Major problems lead to the decreased effectiveness of allografts. 19, 20, 21, 58 Immunologic rejection of implanted graft, 7, 120 delayed union, nonunion, and fracture of the graft are not uncommon. Incorporation of allografts by the host is slower. Vascular penetration is slower and less dense. There is less perivascular new bone formation when compared with autografts. Transmission of disease from allografts is also a serious concern.

The major weakness of the allograft is that it is decd and cannot contribute directly to osteogenesis, as do fresh autografts. Burwell 18 found a way around this problem by combining the osteogenic potential of autogenous marrow with allografts. The use of autogenous marrow to provide superior osteogenic capability in allografts and xenografts, as well as autografts, is finding greater clinical application (see further discussion on xenograft and synthetic implants). The use of bank bone would be very advantageous if storage problems, immunologic reactions, and infection could be eliminated. The allograft must be aseptically obtained soon after death or properly sterilized and processed early to......

http://www.spine-dr.com/site/surgery/s_bone_grafts.html


Use of cortical cancellous allograft for posterior spinal fusion. Autogeneic cancellous bone grafting following transtrochanteric hip arthroplasty. ...
www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/bone_graft_menu

The current study reviews the literature on cancellous allografting in revision total hip arthroplasty.Publication Types Review MeSH Terms ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve& db=PubMed&list_uids=10693553&dopt=Abstract