Fresh small-fragment osteochondral allografts. Long-term follow-up study on first 100 cases.

Of 100 patients receiving fresh osteochondral fragment allografts, 95 had replacement of the weight-bearing portion of the knee. The allografts excised under sterile conditions were stored in Ringer's lactate at 4 degrees and transplanted into recipients within 24 hours. The average follow-up time was 3.8 years. One-half of the patients had allografts because of traumatic injury, and the best results (75% success) were obtained in this group of patients. The overall results were not encouraging for patients with osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis.