RESUMEN
To determine the efficacy of three different antiseptic solutions [Control group [I], Antibiotic solution - Neomycin and polymyxin [II], Chlorhexidine 0.4% [III], and povidone - iodine 10% [IV]] in disinfecting contaminated bone fragments. Under sterile conditions, the femora of 12 rabbits were removed and cut into six millimeter pieces. A total of 200 bone 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 immersion in normal saline solution [Control group]. In other three groups, prior to culture the samples, they were washed with normal saline for ninety seconds and placed in an antibiotic solution [Neomycin and Polymyxin] [group II], Chlorhexidine 0.4% [group III], and povidone-iodine 10% [group IV] respectively. In group I, 22 of 50 specimens had positive cultures. Of 50 specimens of group II and IV, positive cultures were found in 3 and 2 grafts respectively after 10 days whereas no positive cultures were detected in any samples of group III. Chlorhexidine 0.4% seems to be the best antiseptic solution for discontaminating the contaminated bone samples although it did not have any significant difference with povidone-iodine and other antibiotic solution