Allograft choice for ACL reconstruction
An allograft is one of several types of grafts that can be used to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An allograft is tissue harvested from a human donor.
Patellar Tendon Autograft
The patellar tendon autograft is the second most common choice used for an ACL reconstruction autograft after the hamstring tendon autograft.
Quadriceps Tendon Autograft
The quadriceps tendon autograft is the third type of autograft used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. —– Learn more about the other graft types here —– Although the use of this graft was first described in 1979, it has not been widely used until more recently. The most recent surveys show that worldwide, this…
Synthetic grafts for use in ACL reconstruction
Synthetic grafts for ACL reconstruction were first introduced in the early 1980’s, however, they are rarely used. These first generation grafts showed initial promise with short term follow up, but had a high failure rate in the long run.
Hamstring Tendon Autograft
Autografts in ACL reconstruction are tendons harvested from the patient’s own body at the beginning of the procedure and prepared as a tissue graft that can be inserted into the knee during the same procedure in an attempt to restore the normal anatomy of the ACL.
Graft Choices in ACL Reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is currently the gold standard of care for ACL injuries, particularly for young, active individuals and athletes who plan to return to a high level of sporting activities. In ACL reconstruction, the torn ACL tissue is surgically removed and replaced with another tendon or “graft”.