Anatomical Basis for Preservation of Cartilaginous Apophysis in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvest: A Cohort Study.

Background The anterior iliac crest is the workhorse for the harvest of cancellous bone in children undergoing cleft alveolar bone grafting. However, the complexity of the anatomy makes the process of harvesting graft technique sensitive. The aim was to describe the outcomes of the medially based trap door method of graft harvest in pediatric patients undergoing cleft alveolar bone grafting. Methods A cohort study was conducted, including all the patients in the age group of 8-12 years. Alveolar bone grafting was performed after harvesting a cancellous graft from the iliac crest bone grafting (ICBG) using a medially based trap door approach. Intraoperative time, average blood loss, and postoperative outcomes, including pain score, paresthesia, and gait disturbances, were recorded. Results A total of 28 patients were included in the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The volume of cancellous bone harvested was between 4-9 cc. The mean intraoperative time was 42 minutes, with an average blood loss of 36 to 48 ml. The average visual analog scale (VAS) score in the postoperative period was 3.5, 6, and 4 on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days. All the patients were ambulated on the second postoperative day, and none of them reported paresthesia. Long-term evaluation of the anterior illum revealed intact crestal morphology with a bone refill on the posterior-anterior (PA) pelvic X-ray. Conclusion A medially based modified trap door approach is more efficacious and less morbid for the harvest of ICBG in pediatric patients.