Osteochondral Allografts for Large Defects in the Knee

Localized osteochondral and chondral lesions of the knee are commonly encountered in orthopaedic prac-tice. They may become symptomatic with patients experiencing pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms. These lesions have limited ability to heal and may progress to osteoarthritis. This presents an especially difficult clinical problem in young, high-demand indi-viduals. This has led surgeons to pursue biologic solutions for the restoration of damaged cartilage and underlying bone. We have investigated the use of prolonged fresh osteochondral allografts for the treat-ment of large defects of the knee. The surgical con-siderations and techniques are presented in this article