Treated Cryopreserved Tissues Implanted in Knee

Cryopreserved orthopedic tissues treated with a protectant that inactivates pathogens have been implanted in a patient undergoing orthopedic surgery.

The cryopreserved orthopedic tissues were from CryoLife, Inc. (Atlanta, GA, USA), a leader in the processing and distribution of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular and vascular surgeries. To ensure the safety of its tissues, CryoLife has licensed the Clearant Process from Clearant, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA). This technology uses gamma irradiation and a radioprotectant to inactivate pathogens, including microorganisms, while maintaining tissue integrity. The process is used to ensure the safety of blood products, plasma therapies, and tissue allograft implants.

In the orthopedic procedure, once the orthopedic tissues were treated by the Clearant process, they were implanted in a patient to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in the patient's knee. In this case, two tibialis tendons were used to replace the patient's damaged ACL and PCL. CryoLife plans to make available cryopreserved patellar, tibialis, Achilles, quadriceps, and peroneus tendons treated with the Clearant process to orthopedic surgeons.

"I have worked with CryoLife for several years transplanting their cryopreserved musculoskeletal tissues to reconstruct painful, unstable knees,” said Dr. David Caborn, who performed the surgery at Jewish Hospital (Louisville, KY, USA). "The Clearant process provides surgeons with the opportunity to use irradiated orthopedic tissue without compromising the tissue's strength and structural properties, while inactivating pathogens.”




Related Links:
CryoLife
Clearant, Inc.