Autograft Contamination During Preparation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

A high rate (12%) of autograft contamination can be expected during autograft preparation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The contamination rate is almost equal for both bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring tendon autografts. We could not identify an association between contaminated grafts implanted in the knee and postoperative inflammatory markers such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the C-reactive protein level.