Donor site morbidity after harvesting of proximal tibia bone.
BACKGROUND
Bone-grafting procedures are common in head and neck surgery. Donor site morbidity is an important factor in deciding the site for harvest of cancellous bone. The tibia has been recommended as a harvest site. Use of the proximal tibia as a donor site is associated with few complications. Our present study used proximal tibia bone grafts to reconstruct maxillofacial defects and augment bone volume for implantation.


METHODS
A retrospective study was undertaken to analyze 40 proximal tibia bone grafts in maxillofacial reconstruction. Minimal follow-up was 6 months.


RESULTS
There were no major complications during the follow-up period. Early minor complications (15%) included temporary sensory loss and ecchymosis. Late minor complication (2.5%) was gait disturbance for 2 months. Long-term minor complication (2.5%) was an unsightly scar.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure for proximal tibia bone graft is easy, has less operative risk, and results in a lower postoperative morbidity rate. Based on our findings, we believe the proximal tibia offers a reliable site for harvest of sufficient quantities of good-quality cancellous bone.
Chen
Yuan-Chien
YC
Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, China Medical College Hospital, Taiwan.
Chen
Chung-Ho
CH
Chen
Pai-Li
PL
Huang
I-Yueh
IY
Shen
Yee-Shyong
YS
Chen
Chun-Ming
CM