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World J Orthop. Sep 18, 2026; 17(9): 114039
Published online Sep 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.114039
Missouri osteochondral preservation system transplantation: Outcome scores from 24 months to 60+ months
Bhumit Desai, Jonathan Gerard Willard, Eric Assid, Chad Hall, Andrew Renshaw, Eden Schoofs, James Heath Wilder, Lakin Hatcher, Richard Tupler, Deryk Jones
Bhumit Desai, Eric Assid, Andrew Renshaw, James Heath Wilder, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ochsner Health System, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States
Jonathan Gerard Willard, Chad Hall, Eden Schoofs, Lakin Hatcher, Department of Sports Medicine, Ochsner Health System, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States
Richard Tupler, Department of Radiology, Ochsner Health System, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States
Deryk Jones, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Sutter Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Service Line, Emeryville, CA 94705, United States
Deryk Jones, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States
Co-corresponding authors: Jonathan Gerard Willard and Deryk Jones.
Author contributions: Desai B, Willard JG, Assid E, Hall C, Schoofs E, and Hatcher L contributed to drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content; Desai B, Willard JG, Assid E, Hall C, Renshaw A, Schoofs E, Wilder J, Hatcher L, Tupler R, and Jones D contributed to final approval of the version to be submitted; Renshaw A, Schoofs E, Wilder J, and Jones D contributed to the conception and design of the study; Renshaw A, Wilder J, and Jones D contributed to revising it critically for important intellectual content; Schoofs E contributed to acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data; Tupler R contributed to analysis and interpretation of data. Willard JG and Jones D are designated as co-corresponding authors because they shared senior leadership throughout the study and publication process. As the clinical research fellow, Willard JG oversaw manuscript preparation, revisions, and coordinated the submission. Additionally, he was responsible for the primary communication with the journal throughout the peer review and publication process. Jones D served as the senior author and assumed responsibility for the publication transaction fee. Their complementary roles were both essential to the successful completion and submission of this work.
AI contribution statement: The authors certify that no artificial intelligence tools were used in the production of this manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This investigation was approved by the Ochsner Health Human Research Protection Program, IRB No. 2018.247.
Informed consent statement: This study involved secondary research of existing data and was determined to be exempt from informed consent requirements by the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Institutional Review Board IRB ID No. 2018.247.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Additional details are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Deryk Jones, MD, Chief Physician, Principal Investigator, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Sutter Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Service Line, 1201 S. Clearview Pkwy., Bldg. B., Ste. 104, New Orleans, LA 70121, United States.
deryk.jones@sutterhealth.org
Received: September 11, 2025
Revised: July 6, 2026
Accepted: August 20, 2026
Published online: September 18, 2026
Processing time: 364 Days and 9 Hours
BACKGROUND
The Missouri osteochondral preservation system (MOPS) prolongs chondrocyte viability in osteochondral allografts for up to 60 days. Improved chondrocyte viability is linked to improved graft incorporation and functional outcomes.
AIM
To discover the clinical impact of MOPS allograft transplantation on patient reported outcomes.
METHODS
A retrospective review of 76 patients (78 knees) with symptomatic knee chondral lesions treated with MOPS were evaluated for safety, incorporation, survivorship, and improvement in functional outcomes. Short Form-12 (SF-12), subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Subscale Scores (KOOS), Lysholm Knee Scoring System, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Severity and Frequency scores were collected.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine knees (28 patients) meeting inclusion criteria had a minimum 24 months follow up. Lysholm, IKDC, SF-12, and KOOS: Pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sports, quality of life, VAS Pain frequency scores improved at each follow up compared to pre-operative baseline (POB). These trends were maintained at the most recent follow up (average 51.87 ± 17.31 months) with statistically significant increases compared to POB demonstrated. Radiographic evaluation revealed excellent incorporation at last follow up with an average interval change of 0.48 in Kellgren-Lawrence scores in 29/29 knees from preoperative radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis was performed in 22/29 knees with an average MOCART 2.0 score of 72.
CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate significant increases in functional scores at latest follow-up with MOPS grafts compared to POB. MOPS grafts incorporated well without evidence of radiographic deterioration 2 years following transplantation.
Core Tip: This retrospective study evaluated Missouri osteochondral preservation system (MOPS) allograft transplantation for symptomatic knee chondral lesions. MOPS preserves chondrocyte viability, which may contribute to improved graft incorporation and functional outcomes. Patients showed significant, sustained improvements in functional scores, with excellent radiographic incorporation and no evidence of deterioration at two years. These results support the safety and efficacy of MOPS allografts for long-term knee cartilage repair.
