title: Total femoral and tibial osteochondral allograft for remobilizing a knee after arthrodesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knee arthrodesis is a scarcely tolerated procedure with a strong negative impact on the quality of life of the patient. The use of a fresh osteochondral allograft represents a fascinating option for a biological joint reconstruction. Aim of this report is to describe a case of total femoral and tibial osteochondral allograft used for reversing a non-tolerated knee fusion in a young patient and to report the clinical and radiographic results obtained at a 4-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 22-year-old man with right knee arthrodesis received a reversion of the arthrodesis with a total femoral and tibial osteochondral allograft. Clinical and radiographical evaluations were carried out periodically up to 48 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 48 months of follow-up, the patient had full integration of the allograft with a range of motion from 0° to 80°. Clinical scores improved from preoperative to final follow-up (IKDC from 25 to 65, KOOS from 32 to 65 and WOMAC from 30 to 74). Radiographic arthritis occurrence of the transplanted surfaces was evident at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the good clinical results achieved in the case described, a wider applicability of total femoral and tibial osteochondral allograft requires further studies on long-term larger allograft survival. Arthritis recurrence of the transplanted surfaces is cause of concern. Causes and possible solutions need to be more deeply investigated.
authors.affiliation: II Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna University, Via G.C. Pupilli 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buda
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruffilli
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagliazzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts; D001174:Arthrodesis; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*