Cruciate allograft is a reconstruction of the cruciate ligament using donor material from another person (eg tendon). The tissue is harvested from a donor, and processed to make it safe and able to be stored.

 

Allograft or autograft?

The use of allograft for the first procedure to reconstruct a torn cruciate ligament is a bit controversial. Most surgeons nowadays would tend to use an autograft, although an allograft might be the first choice for a second or third procedure if there are no more tendons available in that patient to harvest.

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Tissue banks

Although transmission of infection is a risk with any allograft, most are purchased from accredited tissue banks which adhere to stringent regulation, although standards might vary from country to country. Very occasionally an allograft might be taken from a family member, such as a parent for a child, and in this case there is no tissue bank involved as the material does not have to be stored.

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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...