Sites of Autologous Bone Grafts in Orthopaedic Traumatology. Analysis of complications

Abstract

Background: The use of autologous bone graft in orthopaedic traumatology is not uncommon. But little work, from West African subregion, has been devoted to sites used as
sources of autologous bone grafts.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evolution of these different sampling sites of autologous graft.
Materials and methods: The authors report the results of a retrospective study of 84 patients operated on between 2000 and 2005 for various bone diseases requiring autologous bone graft at CHU Treichville (in Abidjan). Excluded from this study were
bone grafts sourced from femoral heads harvested during arthroplasty of the hip. The series consist of 52 men and 32 women. Sites of bone autografts were iliac in 55 patients, 18 ends of the upper tibia, 7 olecranons, 3 fibulas and 1 greater trochanter of the femur. The evaluation of patients was clinical and radiographic and included the existence or not of pain, stiffness, assessment of the scar and the existence of a local deformation.
Results: Outcome was satisfactory in 72 patients. 6 patients reported pain in the iliac crest. In 11 patients, the scar to the iliac crest was unsightly.
Conclusion: The authors conclude that the commonly used donor sites for autologous bone grafts are safe.

Keywords:autologous bone graft, pseudoarthrosis, bone
reconstruction

Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 20-21