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Allograft

(never “allograph”)

An 'allograft' is a graft (transplant) of material from the body of one person (usually a dead person) to that of another person. The photo on the left shows an allograft of the menisci after harvest.

An allograft is in reality a ‘transplant’ - where a graft is ‘harvested’ (taken) from one person (’the donor’) and put into another person (’the recipient’). In knee surgery, we usually refer to allografts in the context of the menisci or cruciate ligament surgery. In the latter, fascia lata, patellar tendon or achilles tendon may be taken taken from the donor and freezedried to eventually replace a damaged cruciate ligament in the recipient.

The term ‘allograft’ can also be used to refer to a meniscus transplant. Such meniscal allografts are fairly routinely performed in the more advanced centres. The photograph on the left is of a donor meniscus prior to transplant.

The term may also be used for bone and articular cartilage grafts.

The main issues about allografts relate to the strength of the material compared to autograft (from the same body, usually at the same operation, and hence fresh), the possibility of rejection, and the risk of carrying over an infection (such as HIV).