The Comparison of Autoclave, Povidone Iodine 10%, and Boiling Toward Radiological Union Rates and Bacterial Culture

Introduction.There are some controversies about the appropriate management of contaminated bone graft. The purpose of this study was to determine the which one is the most optimal method of decontaminating bone from which often used. Regarding to radiological union rates and microbiological culture.Materials and methods.Twenty eight samples of femur were discarded from 28 male Sprague dawley rats divided into 4 groups of treatment. The bone samples were uniformly contaminated by broth containing Staphylococcus aureus, except the Saline group. The bone samples in each group underwent four different decontamination procedures: Normal Saline, autoclave, Povidone iodine 10%, and boiling, and reimplanted with Kirchner wire fixation.Results.After 8 weeks reimplantation, Radiological examination showed that povidone iodine had higher radiological union rate and lower infection rate compared autoclave, boiling, and normal saline. There was no statistically significant difference in radiological union rate and bone graft infection rate among autoclave, povidone iodine, and boiling, except between povidone iodine and saline group.Conlusions.Decontamination method should have minimal deleterious effect to cell viability and no infection risk. In this study, we found an easily accessible and clinically relevant method of decontaminating contaminated bone by using povidone iodine 10%. Decontamination of cortical bone sample by povidone iodine 10% offers the best balance between lower infection risk of contaminated bone and better union rate