What is a limitation of autografts used in tendon repair?

Autografts, which involve using tissue from the patient's own body for repair, present a notable limitation in the form of limited availability of tissue and donor morbidity. This means that the amount of usable tissue for grafting is finite and can only be harvested from certain areas of the body, depending on the injury or condition being treated. Additionally, harvesting the tissue can lead to complications such as pain, scarring, or functional impairment at the donor site, thus presenting a risk to the overall health and recovery of the patient.

In contrast, while there is some risk of tissue rejection with allografts (tissue from a donor), autografts typically have a lower risk of rejection since they come from the same individual. The risk of infection is present in any surgical procedure, including autograft harvesting, but it is a general surgical risk rather than a limitation specific to autografts. Autografts provide excellent mechanical properties and support, as they are the patient’s own tissue, which is typically well-matched in terms of biological compatibility and strength. Therefore, the limitation reflects a combination of the challenges in obtaining sufficient graft material and the potential impact of the donor site surgery.