Morbidity at bone graft donor sites

J Orthop Trauma. 1989;3(3):192-5. doi: 10.1097/00005131-198909000-00002.

Abstract

A review of the medical records of 239 patients with 243 autogenous bone grafts was undertaken to document the morbidity at the donor sites. The overall major complication rate was 8.6%. Major complications included infection (2.5%), prolonged wound drainage (0.8%), large hematomas (3.3%), reoperation (3.8%), pain greater than 6 months (2.5%), sensory loss (1.2%), and unsightly scars. Minor complications (20.6%) included superficial infection, minor wound problems, temporary sensory loss, and mild or resolving pain. There was a much higher complication rate (17.9% major) if the incision used for the surgery was also the same incision used to harvest the bone graft.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Transplantation*
  • California / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hematoma / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain, Postoperative / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / classification
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology