Osteochondral graft

An osteochondral graft is plug of bone and cartilage that can be press-fitted into a prepared hole to replace a defect in the joint cartilage.

Osteochondral allograft double osteochondral allograft  
Allograft allows for larger plugs that can fill a single defect. More than one plug can be used at a time.  

 

Osteochondral autograft or allograft?

In early osteochondral graft techniques the plugs were harvested along the outer edges of the groove in the patient's own femur (autograft), but nowadays cadaver femur can be purchased (pre-sterilised) and the plugs can be taken from that source (allograft).

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CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS

MR imaging of osteochondral grafts and autologous chondrocyte implantation. Trattnig S, Millington SA, Szomolanyi P and Marlovits S. Eur Radiol. 2007 Jan; 17(1): 103–118.

See also:

Knee arthritis interventions when you are too young for a total knee replacement - ebook

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