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.

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How is allograft obtained?

Allograft is human donor material from a cadaver, and which has been specially processed and stored by a laboratory.

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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.

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Forum discussions

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Synonyms: 
cruciate allograft
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...