Patient information Australian Biotechnologies

What is an allograft?

‘Allograft’ refers to any type of tissue that is transplanted from one person to another. Types of allograft include bone, tendon, organs, heart valves or sections of skin. Allografts have been used routinely in medical practice for over 150 years, and more than 2.2million allografts are transplanted globally, each year.

Australian Biotechnologies produce allografts
from donated human tissue, which includes bone, ligaments, tendons, muscle, cartilage and skin, most commonly for use in Plastic, Reconstructive, Oral-Maxillofacial, Orthopaedic and Spinal surgery.

This brochure contains valuable information for patients receiving an allograft implant.

Where do allografts come from?

Honouring the gift of donation, Australian Biotechnologies works with a number of Government donation agencies and not-for-profit organisations like the Australian Tissue Donation Network, DonateLife and NSW Health, who collect donated tissue and bone.

Allografts are sourced from voluntarily donated human tissue, either from living donors, who have undergone a hip replacement or given birth, or from deceased donors, who have chosen to donate their tissue to help others.

Just one donor’s gift can provide allograft tissue that will benefit more than 100 recipients.

For more information please visit:

• tissuedonationnetwork.org.au
• health.nsw.gov.au/organdonation/Pages/organ-tissue-donation-transplantation.aspx
• donatelife.gov.au

Why are allografts needed?

Many surgeons have recognised the value of using allograft tissue rather than autografts (a patient’s own tissue), or synthetic replacements. During the healing process, the body replaces the allograft tissue through the generation of new cells.

Allografts provide benefits including less surgical time, reduced risks of infection and lower risk in donor site morbidity. For example, in rhinoplasty procedures, using cartilage allograft instead of the patient’s own rib cartilage removes the need for two surgery sites and lowers the risk of infection.

How are allografts used?

Allografts come in a range of different forms and are used routinely in a wide variety of procedures in both adults and children.

Allografts are commonly used in the following surgeries:

• Spinal surgery including spinal fusion procedures
• Plastic and Reconstructive surgery including rhinoplasty
• Oral Maxillofacial surgery including reconstruction
• Orthopaedic surgery including, hip replacement, cruciate ligament, shoulder repair, joint and trauma procedures

How safe are allografts?

The safety* of allografts for use in patients is dependent on stringent donor screening procedures and Quality Control monitoring checks throughout manufacturing, packaging and storage.

Each potential donor is subject to an extensive and detailed medical review, and test results for every allograft must meet strict Quality Assurance requirements, in order for the allografts to be deemed suitable for use. Donated tissue is rigorously tested using the most technologically advanced methods, to ensure that the highest levels of safety standards are met.

Australian Biotechnologies is regulated and licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australian Federal Government), and to date has supplied over 150,000 allografts to the Australian community.

*There is always a risk associated with any medical procedure – speak to your doctor for more information on any implications you may need to consider.

Australian Biotechnologies

As Australia’s leading supplier of human tissue allografts, Australian Biotechnologies use pioneering technology to develop, produce and distribute life enhancing human tissue products, helping to promote natural healing and repair in patients who receive treatment with an allograft.

• Based in Sydney, with a world-class processing facility
• Specially trained technical staff
• Strict quality and handling procedures
• Regulated and licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration

For more information on allografts please contact us.

Australian Biotechnologies Pty Ltd
5/25 Frenchs Forest Road East
Frenchs Forest NSW 2086, Australia
1800 472 387

Honouring the gift of donation, Australian Biotechnologies manufactures and distributes life enhancing allograft tissue products for the Australian community, in partnership with: