Allografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remains one of the most frequently performed orthopedic procedures, and graft selection remains one of the most crucial preoperative treatment decisions. The use of allograft tissue has increased in the past decade for both primary and revision ACL reconstruction, as these tissues can play a role in the treatment algorithm based on patient age, activity level, and overall treatment goals. Several recent investigations have demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes and failure rates in various patient populations with the use of non-irradiated allograft tissue when compared to autograft tissue. As such, there is increasing importance placed on the surgeon’s understanding of allograft tissue options, collection and sterilization procedures, indications for use, and surgical techniques used with allograft tissue.