OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcome of bone or osteoarticular allografts. METHODS: From September 1991 to November 1997, large bone or osteoarticular defects secondary to bone tumors resection in 36 patients and severe trauma in 2 patients were repaired by deep frozen or lyophilized allogeneic osteoarticular or diaphysis graft. RESULTS: No obvious immune rejection to the grafts was observed in most of the patients in early stage after operation. The patients were followed up from 1 year and five months to 7 years and five months with an average of 4.2 years. Limb function was satisfactory in 74.19% of the 31 survival patients with large osteoarticular or diaphysis allografts. CONCLUSION: Cryopreserved or lyophilized allogeneic osteoarticular grafts with decreased antigenicity and good biocompatibility are suitable materials for repairing large bone or osteoarticular defects.
