ABSTRACT
An understanding of the COlTect environment for successful grafting needs to be appreciated (Fig. 1) before good results can be achieved. In revision hip and knee surgery, large quantities of graft may be required to replace extensive bone loss. From a biological remodeling viewpoint, autograft would be the graft of choice, but it i usually precluded due to donor site morbidity in harvesting the large quantities required. The utilization of allograft bone is increasing as the number of revisions of failed joint arthroplasty rises and techniques for bone replacement gain wider acceptance [1,2]. Cadaveric harvest followed by in-adiation, lyophilization, or processing and freeze-drying are used at some centers, as is the use of xenograft and synthetic materials instead of allograft. A greater understanding of the mechanical properties of the grafts would be beneficial and could be analyzed along similar lines to those described in this chapter.
