85. Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Osteoinductive Potential of Demineralized Bone Matrices in an Athymic Rat Posterolateral Spine Fusion Model

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BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is prepared by treating allograft bone in an acid solution to remove the majority of mineral content and expose its naturally occurring growth factors. Previously, DBM has undergone its cleansing and demineralization processes aseptically, but with increased scrutiny from the FDA, most allograft suppliers are focused on providing sterile grafts. However, harsh terminal sterilization processes can alter DBM's natural proteins, decreasing its osteoinductivity, and ultimately rendering the resulting DBM inactive and non-functional.