Allograft

Myth: I could get a disease such as HIV or cancer from donated tissue. Reality: Allografts have been used successfully in various medical procedures for more than 150 years. About one million allografts are transplanted each year in the United States. Reality: Allograft tendons have certain benefits for some procedures. They can eliminate the need... for a second surgery site, avoiding additional pain, risk and possibly a longer hospital stay. The patient's body recognizes the implant as human tissue and begins laying the patient's own new tissue cells over it. Myth: Tissue is taken from a human donor without the donors consent or donor familys authorization. Reality: Legal authorization is required before recovery takes place. Tissue banks require staff to give each family the opportunity to ask for more information throughout the interview process and to give a phone number and contact person should the family want additional information at a later date. Myth: The tissue banking industry is unregulated. Reality: Under federal law, all U.S. establishments dealing with recovery, processing and distribution of donated human tissue must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and must adhere to FDA regulations. Registered tissue banks are subject to inspections by the FDA. Myth: There is no way to trace which allograft implants came from which human donor. Reality: Each tissue donor is assigned a unique identifier that is used to trace the tissue and associated laboratory specimens through every stage of screening, testing and processing. Myth: My body might reject allograft tissue since its not my own. Reality: Most processors take steps to remove all blood and other organisms from the tissue, so there is nothing left that would cause rejection. The allograft is a clean, natural scaffold that allows for remodeling with the patients own tissue. What are the risks associated with my surgery? What are the benefits associated with my surgery? How long will I be in surgery? What type of ...Read More