Evaluation of Donor Site Morbidity Associated with Iliac Crest Bone Harvest in Oral and Maxillofacial, Reconstructive Surgery

Introduction: Iliac crest is the most common donor site for autogenous bone grafting as cortical bone, cancellous bone or combination of both can be harvested in abundance depending upon the need. Ilium provides highest concentration of osteo-component cells and greater quality of bone with less morbidity. Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the donor site morbidity associated with autogenous iliac crest bone grafting for reconstruction in maxillofacial surgery. Materials and Methods: Around 12 patients, who had undergone iliac crest bone harvesting for various maxillofacial and reconstructive surgical procedures like cleft alveolus repair, malar augmentation, mandibular reconstruction following tumour resection and cyst enucleation and other surgical procedures performed in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, over a span of two years. The donor site was evaluated for the following factors: pain, neuropraxia, abnormal gait and scar evaluation. Results: None of the 12 patients had intraoperative complications like haemorrhage, damage to the muscles/ligaments, fracture of the ilium and damage to the acetabular fossa/femur head. Any major postoperative complications were also not recorded. Minor postoperative complications like pain, contour defect, walking difficulty were present, which gradually got resolved by the time of discharge. Conclusion: Anterior iliac crest provides an adequate harvest of cancellous, corticocancellous or bicortical grafts for reconstruction of various osseous defects in the maxillofacial region with least morbidity and should be considered as a major reservoir of bone for bony reconstructive procedures.