Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate May Decrease Reoperation in Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Investigation.

Purpose: To perform a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to assess differences in integration and patient-reported outcomes metrics (PROMs) of osteochondral allograft transplantation with and without bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) augmentation.

Methods: Patients (n = 36) undergoing osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee were consented and enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomized to either iliac crest BMAC or sham incision groups and blinded to their allocation. Computerized tomography (CT) scans of the knee were obtained at 6 months postoperatively after the index transplantation and graded by the semiquantitative assessment CT osteochondral allograft system. PROMs, including the International Knee Documentation Committee and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Joint Replacement, were obtained at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively.

Results: On 6-month postoperative CT scans, patients receiving BMAC-treated grafts were more likely to have small cystic changes (P = .01), with an associated trend toward reduction in large cyst formation (P = .06), but equal osseous integration, graft signal density, and presence of discernible clefts and intra-articular fragments. The BMAC group was less likely to undergo subsequent surgery for graft debridement or revision (5.3% vs 35.3%; P = .02). There were no significant differences in PROMs between the 2 groups preoperatively or postoperatively at 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years. Patients receiving BMAC trended toward a higher rate of achievement of Knee Documentation Committee and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Joint Replacement minimal clinically important difference (88% vs 55%; P = .076).

Conclusions: Patients receiving BMAC-treated grafts were more likely to have small cystic changes and were less likely to undergo subsequent surgery for persistent or new symptoms after the index procedure. No difference in postoperative PROMs was shown at the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups between the 2 groups.

Level of evidence: Level I, prospective, randomized controlled trial.