The Irradiation Effect on the Initial Mechanical Properties of Meniscal Grafts

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yahia, L. H. | Drouin, G. | Zukor, D.

Affiliations: Institut de génie biomédical, École Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succ. “Centre-Ville”, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3A7 | Royal Victoria Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract: In this study, the effect of sterilization was investigated on the mechanical properties of rabbit's meniscal grafts. The processes of freezing and irradiation were carried out and their effects upon the elastic and viscoelastic properties measured using a tensile testing machine and an indentation test. It was found that gamma irradiation, at dosages commonly used for sterilizing grafts, had a significant adverse influence on the elastic and viscous response of the grafts. Freezing led also to a small significant decrease in elastic stiffness but no change in failure strength. It is concluded that irradiation sterilization is unsuitable for clinical use and other techniques should be used whenever possible.

Keywords: meniscal grafts, irradiation, sterilization, mechanical properties

DOI: 10.3233/BME-1993-3404

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 211-221, 1993