A prospective study of factors influencing morbidity after iliac crest harvesting for oral onlay grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluates the morbidity after iliac crest harvesting from the anterior iliac rim for oral onlay grafting and identifies influential factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty partially edentulous or edentulous patients (15 females and 5 males) with a mean age of 54.25 years (range 20-78 years, SD 13.86 years, remaining bone height <5 mm of the alveolar ridge) underwent iliac onlay bone grafting. The postoperative clinical morbidity was classified in minor and major complications and was evaluated with respect to body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The grafting procedure was successfully performed in all patients with a mean BMI of 23.34 (range 18-29, SD 3.36). A significant difference between BMI and walking aid necessity (p = 0.018) was demonstrated, but no difference between BMI and hip pain, duration of disturbance, gait disturbance, complication rate, and sensory loss was identified (p > 0.05). Between hip pain and scar length, age and hip/jaw pain did not demonstrate a significant difference (p > 0.05). Postoperative complications were minor and consisted of hematoma, seroma, and transient sensory disturbance. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing bone harvest from the anterior superior iliac crest with oral grafting show a low minor complication rate and a high overall satisfaction of 95%.