A prospective study of trephined bone grafts of the tibial shaft and iliac crest

Autogenous cancellous bone grafting is a common procedure in maxillofacial surgery. Open harvesting usually results in a long scar and considerable morbidity, but harvesting using a trephine can be done through a smaller scar with minimal morbidity. The commonly used anatomical areas for trephine harvesting are the iliac crest and the tibia] shaft. A prospective study was carried out in 30 patients to compare the technique and the morbidity as perceived by patients using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and by an independent observer. The surgical anatomy and techniques are described. The results show no significant difference between the two groups, but the tibial trephine procedure is easier, quicker, and causes less blood loss. The total scores for pain and difficulty in walking were much less for tibial than that for the iliac grafts.