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How defect size determines OATS or OCAAutograft supply draws the line: defects below 2–4 cm² use OATS, harvesting bone and cartilage from the patient's own knee; larger lesions require OCA, using cadaveric tissue, because autograft volume runs out before expansive defects are adequately covered.Autograft supply draws the line: defects below 2–4 cm² use OATS, harvesting bone and cartilage from the patient's own knee; larger lesions require OCA, using cadaveric tissue, because autograft volume runs out before expansive defects are adequately covered.
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How long osteochondral allografts lastFresh osteochondral allografts achieve approximately 82–86% graft survival at five years and roughly 70% beyond 20 years; outcomes depend substantially on patient BMI, prior knee surgery, and adherence to structured post-operative support.Fresh osteochondral allografts achieve approximately 82–86% graft survival at five years and roughly 70% beyond 20 years; outcomes depend substantially on patient BMI, prior knee surgery, and adherence to structured post-operative support.
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Osteochondral Allograft for Post-Traumatic Knee DefectsOsteochondral allograft restores both the cartilage surface and the bone beneath in a single operation for post-traumatic knee injuries — a combination other procedures cannot deliver.Osteochondral allograft restores both the cartilage surface and the bone beneath in a single operation for post-traumatic knee injuries — a combination other procedures cannot deliver.
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Osteochondral Allograft for Post-Traumatic Knee DefectsWhen post-traumatic knee injury damages both cartilage and underlying bone, osteochondral allograft transplants provide a single-stage solution that other repair methods cannot match. Roughly 75–82% of patients return to sport; grafts show 87% survival at five years, declining to 68% at twenty.When post-traumatic knee injury damages both cartilage and underlying bone, osteochondral allograft transplants provide a single-stage solution that other repair methods cannot match. Roughly 75–82% of patients return to sport; grafts show 87% survival at five years, declining to 68% at twenty.
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Autograft or allograft for large knee cartilage defectsKnee cartilage defects smaller than roughly 2 cm² are typically repaired with the patient's own tissue; larger defects require fresh donor grafts because the knee lacks sufficient low-load surface to harvest from safely.Knee cartilage defects smaller than roughly 2 cm² are typically repaired with the patient's own tissue; larger defects require fresh donor grafts because the knee lacks sufficient low-load surface to harvest from safely.
