This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Osteochondral allograft transplantation seen as successful option for athletic patients
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Recently published results showed most athletes and highly active patients who sustained a cartilage injury to the knee returned to sport or recreational activity following osteochondral allograft transplantation.
William D. Bugbee , MD, and colleagues collected information on preinjury and postoperative participation in sport or recreational activity among 149 knees in 142 patients (58.4% were men) who participated in such activities before cartilage injury and subsequently underwent osteochondral allograft transplantation in the knee. Researchers mailed a questionnaire to patients who did not return to sport after osteochondral allograft transplantation to assess why. Researchers obtained postoperative pain, function and satisfaction scores and documented further surgery on the operative knee.
Results showed 75.2% of knees returned to sport or recreational activity at a mean follow-up of 6 years. Researchers found women, patients with knee injury from an activity other than sport and patients with a larger graft size were less likely to return to sport, and that knee-related issues and lifestyle changes were cited as reasons why patients did not return to sport. Diagnosis and anatomic location also differed between patients who did and those who did not return to sport. Researchers noted “very good” to “excellent” function in 71% of knees and the ability to participate in a high level of activity postoperatively in 79% of knees.
Results showed 25.5% of knees underwent further surgery after osteochondral allograft transplantation. Of these, 9.4% were considered allograft failures. Pain and function improved from preoperatively to the latest follow-up on all measures among the 135 knees that had the graft remaining in situ, and 91% of patients were satisfied with the results of the surgery. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: Funding for this study was received from the Scripps Clinic Medical Group.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts