Allograft ACL Reconstruction in Kirkland, WA
What is Allograft?
Allograft tissue is graft material that is taken from a deceased person. The graft is typically sterilized with radiation and is stored as frozen tissue in a tissue bank. This tissue is used to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) using the same techniques used for autograft reconstruction. Dr. Fuchs is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon that specializes in diagnosing and treating ACL injuries. Call (425) 823-4000 to schedule an appointment at our orthopedic clinic in Kirkland, WA today!
ACL Surgery
Commonly used allograft tissue include patellar tendon allograft, Achilles tendon allograft, and hamstring allograft. Allografts have been shown to provide good stability for ACL reconstruction. They are often used in multi-ligamentous injuries (multiple ligament injuries), revision ACL surgeries, and patients looking for a quicker recovery or less donor site pain.
Concerns with allograft have included laxity and disease transmission (which is extremely rare). Extensive testing is done on all allografts to minimize this risk of disease transmission. No tissue matching is required for allograft ACL reconstruction. The risk of failure (re-tearing of the ACL) is higher with allograft than with autograft tissue, especially in young active patients.
Schedule a Consultation for ACL Surgery in Kirkland, WA
If you are an athlete who has recently torn their ACL, Dr. Robin Fuchs can help you get back into the game! He will take the time to properly diagnose your injury to determine if surgery is right for you. To learn more about ACL surgery, please call (425) 823-4000 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fuchs at our orthopedic office in Kirkland, WA.