Harvest Technique Does Affect the Quality of Osteochondral Grafts: Histologic Evaluation Comparing Commercial Standards versus Scalpel Blade Technique.

Our study demonstrated that OCA plugs harvested with OATS and powered device lead to a significant mechanical injury at the periphery of the explants compared to a scalpel. We propose that the optimal technique for OCA harvest utilizes a combined approach incorporating a scalpel blade/circular scalpel to prepare the chondral surface and a powered trephine to prepare the osseous surface.