Comparative analysis of different methods of anterior iliac crest harvesting in autologous bone graft

Objective To summarize different ways of anterior iliac crest harvesting in autologous bone graft.Methods Clinical data of 625 cases of patients who received grafting procedures of harvesting iliac bone from January 2003 to December 2010 were analyzed.The cases were classified into different types of harvesting such as tricortical iliac bone,internal or external cortical iliac bone,iliac bone cage by circle saw,open window on iliac crest and open window under iliac epiphyseal.The complications of the 5 types were compared.Results 603 cases were followed-up for an average of 12.5 months(range,6 months-6 years).The occurrence rate of complication was 14.9%.The top five leading complications were chronic pain at iliac donor sites,nervous injury,infection,hematoncus and poor postoperative incision healing.Only 7.4% of complication occurred in iliac bone cage by circle saw type,which was the lowest.Conclusion A reasonable iliac harvesting method should be chosen for bone graft.It can reduce complications and save bone sources.