An ACL allograft is a graft from a donor to reconstruct the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
Page updated September 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Comparing allograft to autograft
An ACL allograft can be contrasted with an ACL autograft, where the patient's own tissue is harvested for the graft.
How is allograft obtained?
Allograft is human donor material from a cadaver, and which has been specially processed and stored by a laboratory.
Graft choice in ACL reconstruction
Because an autograft is fresh, taken from the patient during the surgery, it is likely to heal faster. But the downside is that the patient effectively has two surgeries to heal from and the donor site sometimes proves problematic.
Forum discussions
- Over 50...ACL reconstruction or not?
A broad-ranging discussion about various options for ACL reconstruction
- please give advice an graft selection, im freaking out.
A discussion about what dictates the choice of ACL graft material
See also -
Specialist opinion -
2010 - Graft Choice in ACL reconstructions - The Place of Allografts - by Mr Ian McDermott (Knee Surgeon)