Introduction

: Knee osteochondral lesions represent a frequent pathology within young active patients. One possible indication for severe lesions or in case of im possibility of harvesting an autograft is the use of fresh frozen allograft. The objective of this study was to ret rospectively analyze functional results and failure rate after osteochondral transplants using fresh frozen al lografts.

Methods

: We analyzed data from patients who under went knee osteochondral transplant using mosaicplasty technique with fresh frozen allografts at our institution between 2014 and 2019. We included those patients with at least two-year follow-up.

Demographic characteristics such as age at the moment of intervention and size of the defect were included. Functional results were assessed using pre and postoperative Lysholm and IKDC scores. Patients who underwent a knee replacement were considered failures.

Results

: Twenty-five patients were included. The me dian age was 43.5 years (IQR 29-50), 45% were female and the mean follow-up was 83 months (SD 54.6). Mean osteochondral defect size was 4 cm2. Mean pre and post operative Lysholm scores were 39 (SD 19.3) and 82 (SD 15.4) respectively (p < 0.01). Mean pre and postoperative IKDC scores were 42 (SD 13.8) and 60 (SD 13.5) respec tively (p < 0.01). Five patients (20%) underwent a knee replacement afterwards and were considered failures.

Discussion

: Our results after a mean seven-year follow-up evidenced an overall improvement in func tional scores and a failure rate of 20%. Osteochondral transplant using fresh frozen allografts is a reliable and feasible treatment for patients with large osteochondral defects.