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Review
. 2019 Dec 30;7(12):2325967119891435.
doi: 10.1177/2325967119891435. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Use of Allografts in Orthopaedic Surgery: Safety, Procurement, Storage, and Outcomes

Adam J Beer  1 , Tracy M Tauro  1 , Michael L Redondo  2 , David R Christian  3 , Brian J Cole  1 , Rachel M Frank  4
Affiliations
Review

Use of Allografts in Orthopaedic Surgery: Safety, Procurement, Storage, and Outcomes

Adam J Beer et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

The use of allografts has become a vital option for orthopaedic surgeons in the treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal lesions, ranging from osteochondral defects in the glenohumeral joint to meniscal deficiency in the young athlete. Nevertheless, barriers to treating a patient with an allograft-based procedure may arise from concerns over disease transmission, the navigation of tissue banks that supply allografts, the process of obtaining insurance approval, or optimal storage methods. This review serves to support orthopaedic surgeons in the incorporation of allografts into their practice by quelling these potential concerns. Fresh osteochondral allografts, fresh-frozen meniscal allografts, soft tissue allografts, and off-the-shelf cartilage products are the focus of this review amid broad overviews of allograft safety and tissue bank practices in the United States.

Keywords: allografts; articular cartilage; general; knee; shoulder; tissue banks.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: B.J.C. has received research support from Aesculap/B. Braun, Arthrex, National Institutes of Health (NIAMS & NICHD), and Regentis; consulting fees from Anica Therapeutics, Arthrex, Bioventus, Geistlich Pharma, Genzyme, Pacira, Regentis, Smith & Nephew, Vericel, and Zimmer; royalties from Arthrex, DJO, Elsevier, and Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine; educational support from Arthrex and Pacira; financial/material support from Athletico and JRF Ortho; nonconsulting fees from Carticept Medical and LifeNet Health; stock/stock options in Ossio and Regentis; and hospitality payments from Aesculap/B.Braun, DePuy, and GE Healthcare. R.M.F. has received institutional support from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew; research support from Arthrex; and royalties from Elsevier; and is a consultant for Arthrex, JRF, and AlloSource. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A fresh lateral femoral hemicondylar osteochondral allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A fresh patellar osteochondral allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
A fresh femoral trochlear osteochondral allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A fresh distal tibial osteochondral allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
A fresh-frozen lateral meniscal allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
An Achilles tendon allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
A preshaped bone–patellar tendon–bone allograft. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
A fresh osteochondral allograft core. Image courtesy of JRF Ortho.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. American Association of Tissue Banks. Microbiological Process Validation & Surveillance Program. http://www.aatb.org/standards/guidance-documents. Published 2016. Accessed December 31, 2018.
    1. Assenmacher AT, Pareek A, Reardon PJ, Macalena JA, Stuart MJ, Krych AJ. Long-term outcomes after osteochondral allograft: a systematic review at long-term follow-up of 12.3 years. Arthroscopy. 2016;32(10):2160–2168. - PubMed
    1. Baldini T, Caperton K, Hawkins M, McCarty E. Effect of a novel sterilization method on biomechanical properties of soft tissue allografts. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016;24(12):3971–3975. - PubMed

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