What is the main risk of using non-sterile tissue grafts?

The main risk of using non-sterile tissue grafts is the potential for infection in the recipient. When tissues are not properly sterilized before transplantation, they can carry bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens that can lead to postoperative infections. These infections can complicate recovery, cause significant morbidity, and in severe cases, may necessitate additional surgeries or lead to graft failure.

In the context of tissue banking and transplantation, maintaining sterility is crucial not only to preserve the integrity of the graft but also to ensure the safety of the recipient. Infection risk is a key concern that drives strict guidelines and protocols for the processing and handling of tissue grafts, emphasizing the importance of sterility to protect patient health.

While organ rejection and healing time are important factors in tissue transplantation, they are not directly tied to the sterility of the graft itself as much as the risk of infection is. Similarly, reduced functionality may result from various factors, but it is also not a direct consequence of the graft being non-sterile. Thus, the correct answer effectively highlights the most critical and immediate concern regarding non-sterile tissue grafts.