Effectiveness of Lavage Techniques in Removing Immunogenic Elements from Osteochondral Allografts

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare standard saline lavage to combination saline and high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2) lavage in removing marrow elements from osteochondral allografts.DesignSix fresh hemicondyles were obtained. Three osteochondral allograft plugs (15-mm diameter, 6-mm depth) were harvested from each hemicondyle and randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms: A, no lavage; B, 1 L standard saline lavage; C, simultaneous saline (1 L) and 1-minute high-pressure CO2 lavage. After hematoxylin and eosin staining, a “percentage fill” of remaining marrow elements was calculated for each overall sample and then repeated in 3 distinct compartments for each sample based on depth from surface: 1, deepest third; 2, middle third; and 3, most superficial third. Trial arms B and C were compared with 1-tailed Student t tests.ResultsGroup A had an overall percentage fill of 51.2% ± 8.8%. While both lavage techniques decreased overall remaining marrow elements, group B yielded significantly higher percentages of ...