Assessing Donor Site Complications of Iliac Crest Bone Graft in Treatment of Scaphoid Nonunion

Background Bone grafting is a common surgical technique to augment bone regeneration in orthopedic surgery. Autologous bone graft harvesting is the reliable treatment option and iliac crest is the most common harvesting site for healing bone fractures. However, the results of iliac crest bone graft harvesting are associated with morbidity and a number of complications. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess donor site complications of scaphoid nonunion, to find clinical outcomes and the impact of iliac crest bone graft on age, gender, pain, numbness, itching, nerve injury and scar appearance of patients. Methods In a prospective review of 61 cases of iliac crest bone graft procedures at the Shafa hospital from 2013 to 2014, complications including pain, infection, hematoma, stress fracture, hypertrophic scars, numbness area and itching were assessed clinically. Results Pain identified as the most common complication. The most common complications following postoperative pain at the donor site that reduced after six weeks were: numbness 3.27%, unsatisfactory scar appearance 3.27% and itching discomfort 1.63%. Conclusions Harvesting of iliac crest bone graft can be the ideal way to prepare graft procedures required surgery scaphoid nonunion fractures with minimal complications. Nevertheless, with an adequate preoperative planning and appropriate surgical technique, the prevalence of these complications can be reduced.