title: The chin as a donor site in early secondary osteoplasty: a retrospective clinical and radiological evaluation.
abstract: 26 unilateral cleft palate patients received an autogenous bicortical chin bone graft for early reconstruction of the alveolar process. In the evaluation of the donor site, 4% of the anterior teeth showed a negative pulpal sensibility, less than 1% a peri-apical granuloma and 12% pulp canal obliteration. The tooth buds of the canines showed developmental disturbances in 6%. Exposure of unerupted canines should be avoided, and a 5 mm safety margin is advised. Based on its architecture, topographic accessibility, minimal post-operative morbidity and absence of visible scars, the chin can be considered to be a very useful donor site in bone grafting procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hoppenreijs
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nijdam
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Freihofer
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors