Autogenous Cancellous Bone Graft Harvested from Proximal Tibia in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical availability and advantage of autogenous cancellous bone graft from proximal tibia metaphysis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 58 cases of foot and ankle surgeries using bone graft from the ipsilateral proximal tibia from August 2008 to March 2012 in Konkuk University Medical Center (Seoul, Korea). The group included patients with isolated reconstructions as well as trauma in the foot and ankle area. Results: The mean volume of cancellous bone harvested from the proximal tibia was 14 ml (range, 5 to 28 ml) and allograft was added to the autogenous bone graft in order to fill the large bone defect for six cases. The bone graft was performed for 41 arthrodesises, seven supramalleolar tibial osteotomies, eight open reduction and internal fixation procedures, and two curettage and bone grafts of bone tumor. At final follow-up, one case (1.7%) showed mild pain on the donor site and the mean visual analogue scale score for pain was 0.1 (range, 0 to 2). There was no occurrence of major post-operative complication at the donor site. Solid union at final follow-up was observed in 97% of cases. Conclusion: Proximal tibial bone graft was found to be a viable alternative to the iliac crest bone graft in the aspect of cancellous bone graft with relatively sufficient quantity and minimal donor site morbidity.