Pulse-lavage washing is an effective method for defatting of morselized allograft bone in the operating theater

Figures & data

Table 1.  Primary study. Fat percentages (F%) of unprocessed and processed condyle samples and fat removal efficiencies of the different cleansing methods

Sample	Unprocessed F%	Pulse lavage (0.8 L) F%	Fat removal efficiency %	Pulse lavage (0.8 L) + warm water F%	Fat removal efficiency %
1/B	47	8	83	3	93
2/A	54	10	81	6	89
2/B	50	12	76	5	90
3	48	10	79	6	87
Mean	50	10	80	5	90

Table 2.  Main study. Fat percentages (F%) of unprocessed and processed femoral head samples and fat removal efficiencies of the different cleansing methods. The difference in fat removal efficiency between samples washed with saline pulse lavage (1.6 L) and samples washed with saline pulse lavage and additional warm water was statistically significant (p = 0.008)

Femoral head	Unprocessed F%	Pulse lavage (1.6 L) F%	Fat removal efficiency %	Pulse lavage (1.6 L) + warm water F%	Fat removal efficiency %
1	36	0.1	100	0.5	99
2	57	0.8	99	0.7	99
3	40	1.9	95	0.3	99
4	43	1.4	97	0.7	98
5	52	5.9	89	1.6	97
6	42	3.8	91	0.7	98
7	49	3.4	93	2.0	96
8	55	2.7	95	1.5	97
9	42	1.6	96	0.5	99
10	50	2.1	96	0.5	99
Mean	47	2.4	95	0.9	98