Tearing ligaments in both knees didn't slow down Pamela Snyder, 32. An energetic athlete, Pam first tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee playing soccer in high school. Then in college she tore the ACL in her left knee playing flag football. At the time, doctors advised her not to have surgery since the procedure was still considered risky.

Over the next few years, Pam continued an active life, running and doing karate. During the summer of 2000 while practicing karate, Pam jumped and kicked, then landed on her left leg. Without an ACL, it promptly gave out on her. She had torn more cartilage in her knee, and her meniscus had flipped up and lodged in her joint, preventing her from bending her leg.  Southwestern Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Sportstraumatology

In August, Pam's doctor was able to arthroscopically replace the ACL with an allograft ligament and affix it with allograft interference screws. Two to three weeks after surgery, Pam was in the gym for rehabilitation. "I healed so much faster than the autograft patients in therapy," Pam said. "I got my flexibility back faster and made progress much more quickly than people who used their own tissue in surgery." Although her karate days are over, Pam is back to running five miles at a time, and she continues to lift weights in the gym.

If your physician is recommending an allograft implant in your upcoming surgery, you probably have many questions. This brochure gives you answers to the most common questions about allograft. Please ask your physician if you need more detail before making your decision.

-Questions (Allograft)

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