Soft musculoskeletal tissue grafts are available for
repairs requiring sheets or tendinous material. Soft tissues include
grafts such as fascia sheets, bone-tendon-bone grafts (patella allograft)
and other tendon grafts that can be used in a variety of applications
including ligament repair.
Advantages
Available
in different sizes.
Not
generally available as autograft.
Can
be trimmed to fit recipient site.
Common Applications
Tendon repair
Patch material
Composition
Musculoskeletal
soft tissue grafts (tendons and fascia)
are available: including patella (bone-tendon-bone)
grafts, superficial digital flexor tendon grafts
and the common calcaneal tendon w/ bone block
(Achilles' tendon) graft.
Storage
Soft
Tissue grafts should be kept frozen
(at least at -20°C) until ready for use.
If stored at -20°C (or in a standard household
freezer), they should be used within 6 months
of receipt. If stored at -40°C or colder,
the grafts can be stored for 5 years.