Contaminated osteochondral plugs: effect of different sterilizing solutions: an experimental study in the rabbit

BACKGROUND: To determine the efficacy of different antiseptic solutions (Control group (I), Antibiotic solution (II), Chlorhexidine 0.4% (III), and povidone – iodine 10% (IV)) in sterilizing contaminated osteochondral plugs. METHODS: Under sterile conditions, the femoral head and condyles of 20 rabbits were removed and cut into equal osteochondral pieces. A total of 200 osteochondral specimens were obtained. All 200 specimens were dropped on the operating room floor for fifteen seconds and assigned to one of four experimental groups. Group I samples were cultured after washing with normal saline solution (Control group). In other three groups, prior to culturing process, samples were placed in an antibiotic solution after washing with normal saline (Neomycin & Polymyxin) (group II), Chlorhexidine 0.4% (group III), and povidone – iodine 10% (group IV), respectively. RESULTS: In group I, 25 of 50 specimens had positive cultures. Of 50 specimens of group II, III and IV, no positive cultures were found after 10 days. CONCLUSION: All three agents including antibiotic solution, povidone-iodine 10% and chlorhexidine 0.4% seem effective in sterilizing the contaminated osteochondral samples. According to the literature, povidone-iodine has no negative effect on the cartilage metabolism and seems to be a proper choice of decontaminating solution for osteochondral plugs.To the best of the authors’ knowledge, such a study on the contaminated osteochondral specimen has not been previously reported in the literature.