Bone Grafts Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Grafts, including details on spine fusion, surgery, procedure, risks.

Clinical comparison of the Tutoplast allograft and autologous patellar tendon (bone-patellar tendon-bone) for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: 2- and 6-year results.

Gorschewsky O, Klakow A, Riechert K, Pitzl M, Becker R

Sportorthopädie Bern, Klinik Sonnenhof, Buchserstrasse 30, CH-3006 Bern, Switzerland. ottmargorschewsky@sonnenhof.ch

BACKGROUND: The use of an allograft as a suitable transplant is still open to debate, in terms of donor morbidity, implantation reaction, and long-term results, as well as the risk of disease transmission. HYPOTHESIS: The clinical results 2 and 6 years after implantation of a bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft (Tutoplast) and bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft show no significant difference in relation to stability, function, and rate of rupture. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHOD: Between 1995 and 1998, 268 patients with anterior cruciate ligament ruptures were surgically treated: 132 patients received a bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft implantation and 136 patients a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. The results were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee, Noyes, and Lysholm scores. RESULTS: There were 201 patients assessable after 2 years and 186 patients after 6 years. Ruptures of the implants in the allograft group occurred in 20 patients (20.6%) within 2 years and in 38 patients (44.7%) after 6 years. In the autograft group, transplants ruptured in 5 patients (4.8%) after 2 years and in 6 patients (5.9%) after 6 years. CONCLUSION: Based on the data, it would appear that the regular use of bone-patellar tendon-bone allografts, particularly for physically active patients, is unsuitable.

Published 2 August 2005 in Am J Sports Med, 33(8): 1202-9.
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