Dena Bouchard 
University of Rhode Island
Major: Athletic Training / Physical Education
Mentor: Daniel R. Sedory M.S., A.T.C., Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
A Comparison of the Factors Involved in the Autograft vs. Allograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive Surgery
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the two cruciate ligaments in the knee which functions to prevent anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur, limits full hyperextension, and resists posterior translation of the femur in relation to the tibia. In this research an extensive literature review was conducted to discover if there were any significant differences between the autograft and allograft ACL reconstructive surgery.
In analyzing both procedures, the advantages and disadvantages of both surgeries were addressed and the factors involved in each procedure were compared. The positive attributes discovered for the autograft were high tensile strength, ability to revascularize, and bony plug insertions. For the allograft, the positive attributes were the mechanical advantages over the patellar tendon autograft, a more abundant supply of tissue, less operative time, superior cosmetic results, and the ability to avoid the morbidity associated with autograft harvesting.
Complications among both procedures were also discovered. The negative attributes for the autograft were increased chances of patellar fracture, patellar tendinitis, patellar tendon rupture, quadriceps tendon rupture, patellofemoral dysfunction, flexion contracture, and diminished structural properties of the remaining patellar tendon. The negative attributes discovered for the allograft procedure were: the possibility of disease transmission and stimulation of an immune response.
The results of this study indicate there is no significant difference in functional capacity when comparing the allograft to the autograft surgery. In fact, the autograft and the allograft procedures have similar outcomes and through this study prove to be equivalent. This study brings forth the notion that further research is necessary to clarify perceptions about each procedures and how it may effect the outcome of the ACL reconstructive surgery.
