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Graft size linked to antibody development after osteochondral allograft of knee
A significant relationship exists between graft size and antibody development after fresh osteochondral allograft transplants in the knee, according to recently published data.
Researchers conducted a retrospective comparison of 33 antibody-positive patients after fresh, non-tissue-matched osteochondral allograft with an age-, sex- and body mass index-matched group of 34 antibody-negative patients. Mean patient age was 38.1 years. Average follow-up time was 50.3 months.
Graft areas were differentiated as small (< 5 cm2), medium (5-10 cm2) or large (> 10 cm2). Graft survival and Knee Society (KS) functional scores were used to determine clinical outcome.
Among the 27 patients with a large graft area, 19 (70%) had positive antibody screens postoperatively; contrastingly, one of 16 (6%) small graft area patients had positive antibody screens.
Mean postoperative KS score in surviving antibody-positive patients was 88.3, and 84.6 in antibody-negative patients. Graft survival rates were 64% and 79%, respectively.
Disclosure: William D. Bugbee, MD, is a consultant to the Joint Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit tissue bank.