Iliac crest bone graft harvesting complications: A case of liver herniation

The iliac crest is an easily accessible donor site offering a relatively large and safe supply of bone. There are however possible complications; residual pain frequently, and more rarely herniation. This latter's true incidence is unknown in a literature review, which found 15 articles. We report a case of liver herniation in a 64-year-old overweight lady after harvesting bone from her iliac crest. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan. Despite an appropriate surgical repair, the hernia recurred. This serious complication of bone harvesting from the iliac crest, and possible other undesirable events described, prompted reconsideration of our harvesting techniques, and the use in our unit of bone substitutes or cell therapy to fill bone defects.