Functional Outcomes of Frozen Osteochondral Allograft in Chondral Lesions of the Knee
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63403/re.v32i3.423Keywords:
Osteochondral Allograft, Knee, Chondral LesionsAbstract
Introduction: given its impact on patients’ quality of life, massive chondral lesions in the knee represent a significant
challenge in modern orthopedics. Osteochondral allograft has been proposed as a viable solution, providing a three-dimensional scaffold that promotes the regeneration of damaged cartilage.
Objective: to analyze the effectiveness of cryopreserved osteochondral allograft at -80° in the treatment of massive
chondral lesions of the knee.
Materials and methods: 16 patients diagnosed with massive chondral lesions of the knee treated with osteochondral allograft between 2014 and 2023 were included in the study. A preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up at 6, 12, and 24 months were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess graft integration. Functional scales such as the Lysholm score and the KOOS were also used to measure clinical outcome.
Results: after a mean follow-up of 12 months, 75% of patients showed significant improvement in functional
scores. MRIs indicated adequate graft integration in 80% of cases, with a reduction in the lesion area.
Conclusion: osteochondral allograft represents a promising alternative for the treatment of massive chondral lesions in the knee, with positive functional outcomes and good long-term graft integration. Larger multicenter studies are recommended to validate these results.
Level of Evidence: IV. Retrospective Cohort Study
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Copyright (c) 2025 Lisandro Nardin, Franco Francescutti, Matías Sava
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