Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
13:16
Computed Tomography and Optical Imaging of Osteogenesis-angiogenesis Coupling to Assess Integration of Cranial Bone Autografts and Allografts
Published on: December 22, 2015
ACL graft failure location differs between allografts and autografts
Robert A Magnussen1, Dean C Taylor, Alison P Toth
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Health and Performance Institute, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA. robert.magnussen@gmail.com.
Summary
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) autografts often fail at the femoral attachment site after traumatic re-injury. In contrast, allografts are more likely to fail elsewhere or stretch, indicating different failure mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Sports medicine
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction has a failure rate of 5-20%, necessitating revision surgery.
- Animal studies suggest slower allograft incorporation may influence graft failure mechanisms.
- Understanding graft failure locations is crucial for improving ACL reconstruction outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the location of traumatic graft failure in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstructions.
- To compare failure patterns between autografts and allografts following traumatic re-injury.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 34 patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction after traumatic re-injury.
- Data collected included graft type, time to re-injury, activity at re-injury, and graft failure location.
- Study design classified as Level III - Retrospective cohort study.
Main Results:
- A total of 34 patients were reviewed, with primary reconstructions including 20 autografts and 12 allografts.
- The median time from primary ACL reconstruction to re-injury was 1.2 years.
- Autografts failed near the femoral attachment in 14 of 19 cases, while allografts failed near the femoral attachment in only 2 of 11 cases (p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Traumatic failure of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) autografts frequently occurs at the femoral origin.
- Allograft reconstructions that fail are more prone to failure at locations other than the femoral attachment or stretching.
- These findings suggest distinct biomechanical behaviors influencing graft failure in ACL reconstruction.
