An investigation of post-operative morbidity following chin graft surgery

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the morbidity at the donor site following harvest of chin bone for intra-oral augmentation.

The morbidity experienced by 27 consecutive patients who had undergone chin bone harvesting to augment intra-oral sites prior to implant placement at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester was evaluated at one week, one, three and 12 months post-operatively.

Nine (33%) patients suffered post-operative morbidity. One patient experienced paraesthesia of the chin and lower lip and a further patient, paraesthesia of the gingivae immediately post-operatively. Both patients had full recovery when reviewed at three months. Two patients experienced pain at the graft site for up to three months post-operatively. Five (18.5%) patients experienced woodiness/numbness of the lower anterior teeth at the first post-operative visit and at 12 months, two patients continued to have no sensitivity in the lower anterior incisor teeth. None of the patients reported altered contour or change in profile of the chin area. Twenty-three (85.2%) patients had successful grafts with placement of implants thereafter.

It is important for GDPs and specialists to make patients aware of the possible morbidities following harvest of bone from the chin.