Comparison of Donor Site Engraftment After Harvesting Vascularized (V) and Non-Vascularized (NV) Iliac Bone Grafts

Purpose: The objective of this study is to characterize the donor site morbidity following harvesting of non-vascularized (NV) and vascularized (V) iliac bone grafts.

Patients and Methods: Clinical data of 353 patients were collected for analysis. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to all patients requesting their perceptions of different parameters. In an individual age matched lay out we compared 34 patients with non- Vascularized to 34 patients with vascularized iliac bone grafts.

Results: Transplantation of V bone grafts has been increasingly performed at our institution. The mean age in the NV-group was 41.5 years and 48.6 years in the V- group, respectively. The main reason for the bony defect in the V-group was malignancy. The majority of postoperative functional problems were observed in obese patients. No patient experienced serious or long-term complications at the donor site. The amount of bone graft taken affected post operative sensitivity disturbance and caused postoperative functional problems and pain.

Conclusion: We conclude that the iliac crest is a suitable site for harvesting both V and NV bone grafts of up to a size of 10×3cm. For larger defects which require a larger bone graft V bone graft is more suitable with a better predictable healing capability. No significant differences at the donor site morbidity were found between the V and NV bone grafts if the similar amount of bone transplant was taken.

Key words: vascularized and non-vascularized bone graft, donor site morbidity