Biology of Allograft Incorporation

The use of implantation of allograft tissue in sports medicine has risen steadily over the last decade. Allograft tissues offer several advantages over autografts, including reduced donor-site morbidity and decreased operative time, and in some instances, no autograft option exists. However, with allografts, there is a small risk of disease transmission, immunologic rejection, and decreased biologic incorporation. Several techniques to limit these pitfalls and maximize graft incorporation are available, however. This chapter takes an in-depth look at the biology of allograft incorporation and how these techniques affect graft incorporation.v