Banco de hueso de la Clínica Universitaria de Navarra

The Bone bank at the University Clinic is described along with its three units: - Electrical freezer (-40°). - Liquid nitrogen freezer (-197°). - Temperature programmer descense. The first unit is used for the pl';!Servation of cancellous bone, for a limited lapse of time; the second unit is employed for preserving corticall grafts for an unlimited period. The third unit allowns to control the temperature descense rate, in order to preserve the viability of condrocitos in grafts including epiphyseal ends. Clinical applications of bone grafts are currently enlarging in areas such as tumour sing, spine surgery and arthrodesis and reconstructive procedures of the hip joint.