The operative technique of fresh osteochondral allografting of the knee

In recent years there has been a burst of interest in the repair of articular cartilage defects. Fresh osteochondral (shell)allografting is one of several experimental procedures designed to repair full-thickness defects in young adults. This article describes the procedures used at our institution and contrasts these with the procedures at the two other centers, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and Resurgens, the clinic for Reconstructive Orthopaedic Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia, that have extensive experience with this operation.