Donor Site Morbidity Associated With Autogenous Bone Harvesting From the Ascending Mandibular Ramus

The objective of the present retrospective study was to assess long-term morbidity and postoperative complications after autogenous bone harvesting from the ascending mandibular ramus.Bone harvesting from the ascending mandibular ramus was conducted in a consecutive case series, including 325 patients, at The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Records and radiographs were retrospectively analyzed.Temporary neurosensory disturbances in the inferior alveolar nerve were found in 6.1% of the patients. Only 0.5% of the patients had permanent neurosensory disturbances. Severe hematoma occurred in 20 patients, while infection occurred in only 1 patient.Within the limitations of a retrospective case series study, the present study suggests that harvesting of autogenous bone from the ascending mandibular ramus is a safe surgical procedure with minimal donor site morbidity and few postoperative complications.