Authors' recommendations: Health Problem: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is 1 of 4 major ligaments in the knee joint that maintain stability of the joint. Most ACL injuries are complete or near-complete tears resulting in substantial joint instability. Technology Description: ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure in which a torn ACL is replaced with a tendon graft retrieved from the patient's body (autograft) or a human donor, usually a cadaver (allograft). This report focuses on the comparison of nonirradiated allografts with autografts for primary reconstruction of ACL injuries. Controversy: Use of an autograft tendon is associated with donor site morbidity, longer surgical times, and the risk of unsuitability of harvested graft material (e.g., insufficient graft size, poor quality). While allografts overcome these limitations, they carry risks of infectious agent transmission, immune response, and delayed incorporation. Key Questions: Are nonirradiated allografts effective in repairing knee function following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction? How do nonirradiated tendon allografts compare with autografts with regard to knee function following ACL reconstruction? Are nonirradiated tendon allografts safe? Have definitive patient selection criteria been identified for the use of nonirradiated allografts?

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2017

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=75406

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: Winifred S. Hayes, Inc