High Return to Sport in Patients Over 45 Years of Age Undergoing Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation for Isolated Chondral Defects in the Knee.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteochondral allograft (OCA) in patients older than 45 years of age, particularly with respect to return to sport. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate patients greater than 45 who underwent an OCA for a symptomatic osteochondral defect of the knee between June 2011 and January 2019. Overall, there were 18 patients (76% male) that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Follow-up was attained in 14 of these patients (78%). The mean age of patients included was 52.6 years (48-57) with a mean of 37 months of follow-up (18-60). Visual Analogue Scale scores decreased significantly from the preoperative baseline to final follow-up (7.7 ± 1.7 vs. 2.0 ± 2.0, In our series of patients 45 years and older who were treated with OCA for focal osteochondral injuries of the knee, we found a significant improvement in clinical outcome scores at a midterm follow-up of 37 months with no revision OCA procedures or conversion to any form of knee arthroplasty. In addition, a high percentage of patients were able to return to their preferred level of athletic activity.