Fresh osteochondral allografts for post-traumatic osteochondral defects of the knee

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1997 Nov;79(6):1008-13. doi: 10.1302/0301-620x.79b6.7534.

Abstract

We used fresh small-fragment osteochondral allografts to reconstruct post-traumatic osteochondral defects in 126 knees of 123 patients with a mean age of 35 years. At a mean follow-up of 7.5 years (2 to 20), 108 knees were rated as successful (85%) and 18 had failed (15%). The factors related to failure included age over 50 years (p = 0.008), bipolar defects (p < 0.05), malaligned knees with overstressing of the grafts, and workers' compensation cases (p < 0.04). Collapse of the graft by more than 3 mm and of the joint space of more than 50% were seen more frequently in radiographs of failed grafts. Our encouraging clinical results for fresh small-fragment osteochondral allografts show that they are indicated for unipolar post-traumatic osteochondral defects of the knee in young active patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Bone Screws
  • Bone Transplantation* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Transplantation* / pathology
  • Cartilage / transplantation*
  • Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
  • Cartilage, Articular / injuries
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Cartilage, Articular / surgery
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur / injuries
  • Femur / pathology
  • Femur / surgery
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Knee Injuries / pathology
  • Knee Injuries / surgery*
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Knee Joint / pathology
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteotomy / methods
  • Patella / diagnostic imaging
  • Patella / injuries
  • Patella / pathology
  • Patella / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Radiography
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging
  • Tibia / injuries
  • Tibia / pathology
  • Tibia / surgery
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Workers' Compensation