For athletes, a knee injury that damages cartilage can feel like a career-ender. But thanks to a procedure called osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation-where healthy cartilage and bone from a donor are used to repair the knee-many are finding their way back into the game. While this surgery has shown promise, athletes naturally want to know: Can I return to my sport? And if so, how soon?
A recent review, done by Dr. Okoroha's colleagues, of 14 studies help answer those questions by looking at how well athletes recover and return to play after this type of knee surgery.
Return to Sport in Athletes After Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation: A Systematic Review
Study Highlights
Patient Demographics: The review included 471 athletes, mostly men, with an average age of 31. Most patients had damage on the inside part of the knee (medial femoral condyle), and nearly half had a condition called osteochondritis dissecans.
Follow-ups: Patients were followed for an average of just over 4 years after surgery, giving researchers a clear look at medium-term results.
Positive Outcomes: About 72% of athletes returned to their sport, and of those, 84% got back to the same or higher level of competition. Most athletes returned within 11 months, though this varied from 6 to 26 months.
Conclusion
If you're an athlete facing cartilage damage in your knee, OCA transplantation may give you a real shot at returning to the sport you love. The majority of athletes in this study made it back to the field, court, or track-often at the same competitive level. While there is still a small risk of complications like graft failure, the overall outlook is hopeful. Talk with your orthopedic surgeon about whether OCA is right for your recovery plan.
We are committed to providing personalized care and innovative treatments to help patients reach their full potential. To learn more about knee osteoarthritis, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kelechi Okoroha today. Seeing patients from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Plymouth, Edina, Minnetonka, Rochester, and Minnesota ensures that patients receive specialized care aimed at maximizing their athletic performance and long-term knee health.
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