Morbidity of chin bone transplants used for reconstructing alveolar defects in cleft patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective and subjective morbidity of symphyseal chin bone harvesting used for reconstruction of alveolar defects in young cleft patients.


METHODS
All patients who had undergone chin bone harvesting for alveolar cleft reconstruction in the period from 1992 through 2000 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, were invited to participate in this retrospective study.Patients' acceptance, perioperative and postoperative morbidity were evaluated. A survey of the medical records was performed. In addition, the patients completed a questionnaire for their appreciation of the procedure. They were also subjected to a clinical and radiographic examination.


METHODS
Thirty patients (21 males and 9 females; mean age 11.8 +/- 3.6 years) participated in this study.


RESULTS
Neither the medical records nor the experiences of the patients showed significant morbidity. The procedure was appreciated with 6.8 +/- 3.5 (scale 0 to 10). Postoperative pain was scored as 1.2 +/- 2.5 (scale 0 to 10). Three patients reported transient sensory disturbances at the donor site. Two patients showed a slight sensibility disorder in the symphyseal region. In three patients, an endodontic problem had developed in a lower incisor.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that chin bone harvesting for reconstructing alveolar cleft in young patients is a well-accepted procedure with low objective and subjective morbidity. Notwithstanding this low morbidity, the patients (and their parents) have to be informed about the risk of objective and subjective disturbances of the sensibility in the donor region and the risk of dental pulp necrosis.
Booij
A
A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Raghoebar
G M
GM
Jansma
J
J
Kalk
W W I
WW
Vissink
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000543:Alveoloplasty; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects*