RESEARCH & ARTICLES

Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation of the Knee: Analysis of Failures at 5 Years

Purpose: To quantify osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation survival in a large series of patients and report findings at time of reoperation.

Summary:

  • 180 patients underwent an OCA  transplantation with or without concomitant surgery
  • At a mean follow-up of 5 years, 66 patients (37%) had undergone a reoperation
  • 91% of these reoperations were arthroscopic debridements
  • After arthroscopic debridement with an intact graft, 82% of patients had significantly improved outcomes
  • Overall there was an allograft survival rate of 87% at 5 years
  • Number of previous ipsilateral knee surgeries and BMI were independent factors of reoperation and failure
  • Patients undergoing concomitant MAT with an OCA procedure did not have an increased risk of failure

JRF Ortho Take Away: Despite a relatively high reoperation rate, the overall allograft survival rate suggests that reoperation itself does not necessarily indicate a failure.

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Authors: Rachel M. Frank, Simon Lee, David Levy, Sarah Poland, Maggie Smith, Nina Scalise, Gregory L. Cvetanovich

Published: The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017 Mar;45(4):864-874.

Level of Evidence: IV

Institution: Rush University Medical Center