In ACL reconstruction with a human donor graft, which term is used for the graft?

In the context of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction, when a human donor graft is used, the correct term for the graft is "allograft." An allograft refers to tissues or organs that are transplanted from one individual to another of the same species, but genetically different. In ACL reconstruction, using an allograft is a common practice, particularly when a patient prefers not to have an autograft (which would use their own tissue), or when there are factors that make harvesting autologous tissue less desirable.

The terminology distinguishes between various types of grafts, such as autografts, which are sourced from the same individual, xenografts, which come from a different species (e.g., pig or cow), and hemografts, which is a less common term generally associated with vascular grafts. In the case of ACL reconstruction utilizing human donor tissue, allografts are favored for their ease of use and ability to reduce the morbidity associated with harvesting tissues from the patient.