Osteochondral allografts: applications in treating articular cartilage defects in the knee

Chondral injury in the knee is a unique challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. Given the high probability of progression to knee arthrosis, the treatment of symptomatic cartilage defects of the knee has become an important surgical intervention in young, active patients. The demand for an alternative to prosthetic resurfacing has driven the trend towards biologic resurfacing and joint preservation. Osteochondral allografts are composed of hyaline cartilage attached to subchondral bone and are suited for large osteochondral lesions. This allograft tissue must be harvested, processed, and stored appropriately to reduce the risks of graft failure and potential complications. With appropriate indications and surgical techniques, osteochondral allografts have been shown to have good long-term graft survival and patient outcomes.