Perioperative Morbidity Associated with ACL Reconstruction: A Comparison of Risk Between Soft-Tissue Allografts and Autogenous Grafts in 413 Patients (SS-66)

Conclusion Within 6 months after a first ACL reconstruction surgery, the risk of complication, including infection or device removal, was 5% in the entire cohort. However, morbidity risk was 3 times greater among patients receiving allograft tissue than among those receiving autograft tissue. Risk was elevated by a similar magnitude for non-infectious and infectious complications. These results may help patients and surgeons weigh the short term risks and benefits of choosing allograft or autograft tissue for use in ACL reconstruction.