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Abstract
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction requires graft tissue, typically either autograft from the patient or allograft from a donor. The short‑term complication risks associated with graft type are not well defined. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to measure six‑month morbidity following primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Using billing codes and medical record review, we identified graft type, patient characteristics, and postoperative complications. Among 413 patients (average age 33 years; 65% male; 66% allograft), overall morbidity was 5%: 7% in allograft recipients and 2% in autograft recipients. After adjusting for sex, the relative risk of complications for allograft versus autograft was 3.0 (95% CI: 0.9–9.7). These findings support informed decision‑making about short‑term risks associated with graft choice in ACL reconstruction.