Comparison of laundry detergent and antiformin solution methods to retrieve clean bones from embalmed cadavers / Comparación de los métodos de solución de antiformina y detergente de lavandería para recuperar huesos limpios de cadáveres embalsamados

SUMMARY: Traditional methods of bone retrieval from embalmed cadaver are not able to meet the demand of medical colleges as they are time consuming & tedious, thus there is need of evaluating an alternative approach that includes use of laundry detergent. The purpose of the study was to compare & establish the most effective method between laundry detergent and 10 % antiformin solution methods to procure clean bones. Thirty-two bones of the right side that were included in the inclusion criteria obtained from the four embalmed cadaver were cleaned by laundry detergent and of the left side by 10 % antiformin solution methods. Retrieved clean bones were evaluated for their cleanness using the scale from 0 to 5. The mean cleanness scores of the bones cleaned by laundry detergent method were not significantly different at 95 % confidence interval than the mean cleanness scores of the bones cleaned by 10 % antiformin solution method. The study found that though there is no significant difference in the mean cleanness score of the bones cleaned by two employed methods nevertheless, bones were found to be cleaner by using 10 % antiformin solution method and bones obtained by using laundry detergent method had smooth surface as well as more suitable for flat bones.

Los métodos tradicionales de recuperación de huesos de cadáveres embalsamados no pueden satisfacer la demanda de las facultades de medicina, ya que consumen mucho tiempo y son tediosos de realizar, por tanto es necesario evaluar un enfoque alternativo que incluya el uso de detergente de lavandería. El propósito del estudio fue comparar y establecer el método más eficaz entre el detergente para la ropa y los métodos de solución de antiformina al 10 % para obtener huesos limpios. Fueron utilizados 32 huesos del lado derecho que se incluyeron en los criterios de inclusión obtenidos de los cuatro cadáveres embalsamados. Los huesos se trataron con detergente de lavandería y los del lado izquierdo con métodos de solución de antiformina al 10 %. Los huesos tratados se evaluaron respecto a su limpieza utilizando una escala de 0 a 5. Las puntuaciones media de limpieza de los huesos tratados con el método de detergente no fueron significativamente diferentes en un intervalo de confianza del 95 % de las puntuaciones medias obtenidas respecto a la limpieza de los huesos tratados con antiformina al 10 %. El estudio determinó que, aunque no hay hubo diferencia significativa en la puntuación media de la limpieza de los huesos tratados por los dos métodos, se observó que utilizando el método de solución de antiformina al 10 %, la limpieza de los huesos era mejor, sin embargo, los huesos planos presentaban una superficie más lisa cuando se usó el método de detergente de lavandería.

Light and transmission electron microscopic study of spinal cord in embalmed and fresh cadavers.

Objective : To observe and differentiate histological structures and ultrastructures by light microscope and transmission electron microscope between embalmed cadaveric spinal cord and fresh cadaveric spinal cord. Methods : The spinal cords were dissected from seven embalmed cadavers of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. The specimens were prepared for routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining for light microscope (LM)study. Some of the specimens were prepared to study by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Finally we observe and compare between spinal cord from embalmed cadaver and fresh cadaver. Results : By viewing with light microscope, the quality of spinal cords from embalmed cadavers are better and clearer than from fresh cadavers. Viewed by transmission electron microscope, the lipid part in the spinal cord from cadaveric embalmed tissues is degenerated but the protein part is not deformed. Conclusion : The spinal cords from cadavers which were fixed by excess formalin injection and embalmed in formalin for 1-2 years , are well-preserved for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining techniques for light microscope (LM) study in Histology. However in the EM of spinal cord sections from embalmed cadavers, the protein component was more likely withstand to formalin and embalmment procedures compared to the lipid componennt (e.g.myelin sheath, cell membrane).