Implantation and Safety

Tissue Implantation

The chart below lists some of the types of reconstructive surgeries such as orthopedic, neurologic, cardiovascular, spinal, ophthalmologic, and sports medicine that might utilize human tissue. The chart also includes tissue grafts normally used for these surgeries:

Type of Surgery Surgical Procedure Tissue Products
Orthopedic Total Hip Revision Cortical Bone
Non Union Cancellous Bone Chips
Bone Tumor Reconstruction Osteoarticular Bone
Neurologic Craniotomy Fascia, pericardium
Spinal Cervical Disketctomy/Fusion Ulna, radius, fibula
Lumbar Diskectomy & fusion Femur ring
Cardiovascular Valve Replacement Aortic, Pulmonary or Mitral Heart Valve
Access Surgery AV Shunt Femoral Vein
Sports Medicine ACL, PCL Tendon
Ophthalmologic Cornea Transplant Cornea
Enucleation Sclera
Podiatric Ulcers Apligraf, Dermagraft, Skin

Tisue Safety

There is a very small, if not negligible, risk that an allograft tissue can transmit a disease or infection.

This is rare due to the processing and testing of the tissue. Here are some of the steps taken to minimize any chance of this occurring:

  1. Donor medical history
  2. Donor physical assessment
  3. Donor Serological testing (See explanation below.)
  4. Donor Autopsy results if available
  5. Cleaning and processing of all tissues under aseptic conditions
  6. Cultures of each tissue at recovery and processing
  7. Sterile packaging and monitored storage of processed tissues

Donor blood samples are tested by a specially licensed testing facility for Hepatitis B Antigen/Antibody, Hepatitis C Antibody, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and 2 (AIDS) as required by the FDA. Both, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation and Cryolife, Inc. exceed the FDA requirements for serological testing. All tests must be negative for tissues to be released.

Also in This Section

Allograft vs. Autograft

A patient's own tissue - an autograft - can often be used for a surgical reconstruction procedure. Allograft tissue, taken from another person, takes longer to incorporate into the recpient’s body .

Tissue Donation

When a hospital patient dies and the expired patient meets tissue-donor criteria, the family may be asked if it is interested in tissue donation.

Tissue Processing

Once tissues are received, the processing organization stores the tissues in temperature controlled sub-zero freezers while donor medical history and the results of cultures and blood tests are reviewed.

Tissue Tracking

The American Association of Tissue Bank and Joint Commission Accredited Hospital Organization require that all human tissues must be able to be tracked from donor to recipient.

Storage and Distribution

Human tissues do not have to be used immediately. They can be stored for a period of time until they are needed.

Implantation and Safety

The chart below lists some of the types of reconstructive surgeries such as orthopedic, neurologic, cardiovascular, spinal, ophthalmologic, and sports medicine that might utilize human tissue. The chart also includes tissue grafts normally used for these surgeries:

Tissue Bank