Allogeneic vascularized transplantation of human femoral diaphyses and total knee joints—first clinical experiences

Clinical experience in allogeneic vascularized bone and joint allografting

“…[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] For the sake of clarity, the following discussion describes each patient separately, focusing first on our three femur diaphysis allograft patients and then on our five whole-knee joint allograft patients.…”

Living Bone Allotransplants Survive by Surgical Angiogenesis Alone: Development of a Novel Method of Composite Tissue Allotransplantation

“…Transplantation of living allogeneic bone could provide a replacement closely matched to the dimensions and mechanical properties of the resected bone, combined with the desirable healing properties of autotransplants. Few such procedures have been performed clinically because they require the use of long-term immunosuppression to maintain circulation and viability 9,10 . The results in human trials have been disappointing.…”

Tacrolimus (FK506): Safety and Applications in Reconstructive Surgery

“…Adverse sequelae related to standard maintenance doses of general immunosuppressive medications were not seen when used for a relatively short time period. There has also been a small series of allogeneic vascularized human femoral diaphyses and total knee joint transplants reported in 1998 [42,43]. Immunosuppression began with quadruple-drug induction therapy with CsA, azathioprine, anti-T-lymphocyte globuline (ALG), and methylprednisolone, followed by oral maintenance therapy with CsA and azathioprine which were stopped after 2 years in recipients of femoral diaphyseal allografts, but was indefinite for the knee joint allografts.…”