A recent study by The American Journal of Sports Medicine on athletes returning to sport after an osteochondral allograft transplant found 91 percent of patients were satisfied with the results.
Here are five insights:
1. The study followed 149 knees in 142 patients who participated in sport or recreational activity before sustaining a cartilage injury. The average age was 31.2 years and 58.4 percent were male.
2. After six years, researchers followed up with the patients, discovering 75.2 percent of knees returned to sport or recreational activity.
3. Patients who did not return to sport were more likely female, to have injured their knee in an activity other than sport and have a larger graft size. Of those who did not return to sport, knee-related issues and lifestyle changers were cited as reasons why.
4. Overall, 71 percent of knees reported having "very good" to "excellent" function and 79 percent were able to participate in high level activities.
5. After the transplant, 25.5 percent of knees underwent further surgery and 14 knees were considered allograft failures.