OSTEOCHONDRAL ALLOGRAFTS FOR OSTEOCHONDRITIS-DISSECANS AND OSTEONECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL CONDYLES

Osteochondral allografts were used in 11 patients with osteochondritis dissecans and 4 with osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles. The lesio ns were mainly in the medial condyle in 13 cases, and in the weightbea ring area in 10. The grafts had a mean size of 6 cm2; 8 were kept in h ypothermia at 4-degrees-C for less than 24 h and 7 were stored at -80- degrees-C with cryoprotection. After an average follow up of 3.2 years , only 2 patients needed a further operation, one for nonunion and the other for a fracture of the graft. The others had improved clinically and showed radiological union of the graft with preservation of the j oint space.