Allografts in Knee Surgery

Meniscus Transplantation – Current Concepts

“…The use of allografts in knee surgery is expanding, and it is important for orthopedic surgeons counseling patients about their use to understand the safeguards in place to ensure quality and minimize the risk of disease transmission. 8 The American Association of Tissue Banks is an accrediting group for tissue banks. Founded in 1976 by doctors and scientists, it has the stated goal of ensuring that allograft tissues "are safe and free of infectious disease, of uniform high quality, and available in quantities sufficient to meet national needs."…”

“…46 Other contraindications include obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, immune compromise, metabolic disease, infection, and lack of commitment to postoperative restrictions. 8,14,43,65 surgIcal technIque Several techniques have been described for allograft meniscus transplant, with differences that can be grouped into 3 categories: l Open versus arthroscopically assisted. l Suture fixation versus bony fixation.…”

Current Safety Sterilization and Tissue Banking Issues for Soft Tissue Allografts

“…The ''committee on biological implants tissue work group'' of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons have urged the orthopedic surgeons to work with AATB tissue banks and ''know their tissue banker.'' 13 Other authors have stated that a tissue bank not accredited by the AATB should be ''a red flag'' 14 with respect to quality.…”