The Illustrative Osteochondral Allograft-Based Cartilage Repair

The use of osteochondral allograft (OCA) represents a reconstructive solution for treating young, high-demand patients with symptomatic chondral lesions in an attempt to delay or avoid the need for joint replacement. Allografts have the advantage of providing flexibility in terms of the size of the defect treated and the location. Both femoral and tibial defects can be addressed, and reasonable results have also been reported in the patella. It is a single-stage treatment and, in association with autologous osteochondral transplantation, the only method of cartilage repair that results in the regeneration of mature hyaline cartilage with viable chondrocytes [1]. The main indications for the use of fresh osteochondral allografts are avascular necrosis of the femoral condyle, large osteochondritis dissecans and traumatic defects of the knee. As with all forms of cartilage repair, associated malalignment, instability and/or meniscal deficiency must be addressed concomitantly.