PHILLIPS G O - Böcker

This volume of tissue banking is the second of a series extending the interdisciplinary field. All of the authors of this book have been major contributors of scientific and medical publications in their respective specialities. There are articles covering blood transfusion; bone marrow and stem cell transplantation; immunology and the role of immunology in musculoskeletal transplantation, various aspects of cryopreservation of organs, cartilage and tendons; organ perfusion preservation; the history and long term follow-up of osteochondral allografts, both frozen and fresh; neurosurgical applications; cardiovascular applications; the use of skin and newer biological membranes for wound coverage.The book is of particular importance, in that it has been written in memory of Kenneth W Sell, MD, PhD, a pioneer and promulgator of tissue banking and transplantation. Many of the physicians, surgeons and scientists who trained under his leadership have gone on to distinguish themselves in the various aspects of transplantation. Many of them have contributed to this book, exemplifying the diversity of Dr Sell's contributions to tissue banking and transplantation.

This important book provides new information about the inter-disciplinary field of tissue banking and related clinical applications, and complements the previous two volumes. It gives comprehensive coverage of the regulatory framework of the subject, as well as production and sterilisation of tissue allografts (bone, skin and new substitutes). The use of tissue allografts in orthopaedic and replacement surgery for the treatment of burns, etc. is described.

This series has now established itself as the leading publication on the multi-disciplinary subject of tissue banking. The high quality of the contributors and the broad coverage of the subject have continued in Volume 4. The material given in this volume is not presented anywhere else as systematically or as authoritatively.The essential feature in establishing confidence in the quality and safety of allografts is the manufacturing quality system utilised. This volume describes the most recent approach to good manufacturing control.Throughout the world, the old cottage approach to tissue banking is being abandoned, mainly due to the insistence by regulatory authorities that the procedures should be standardised and rigorous infection control applied. The experience in a number of countries is described in this volume, giving the reader quick access to developments in Argentina, Finland, Indonesia, Scotland and France. These represent a geographical and cultural spread of the developments.A balance needs to be struck between the use of allografts and of bone substitutes, depending on the clinical condition and the availability of grafts in a particular situation. The subject areas — such as mandibular reconstruction, spinal surgery, surgery and reconstruction of bone tumours and acetabular revision — covered in this volume demonstrate the universality of this technique. The use of allografts for the repair of knee ligaments has been and remains a controversial subject. The contributions on this subject will surely be an important and positive addition to this debate.