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Iliac crest bone graft harvest is a procedure to take bone from the upper rim of the pelvis for use elsewhere in the same patient. This type of graft is called an autograft. The bone can help support healing during a fusion, fracture repair, or reconstructive operation.
read more about iliac crest bone graft harvest ...A surgeon may choose this graft when a repair needs bone that can support new bone growth. The amount and type of bone needed depend on the operation receiving the graft. Other graft sources may be considered when harvesting pelvic bone is not suitable.
The surgeon makes an incision over the front or back of the iliac crest, depending on the planned operation. Bone is removed from the pelvic rim and prepared for placement at the repair site. The donor incision is then closed and dressed.
The donor site may be sore in addition to the area where the graft was placed. The care team gives instructions for incision care, walking, and activity while the area heals. Recovery also depends on the larger operation performed with the harvest.
Risks at the donor site include persistent pain, bleeding, infection, and changes in skin sensation. A fracture of the iliac crest is possible but uncommon. Harvesting adds a second surgical site, and only a limited amount of bone can be taken.
No. The graft is taken from the iliac crest, which is the upper rim of the pelvic bone. The hip joint itself is not the source of the graft.
No. An iliac crest autograft comes from the patient receiving the graft. Bone from another person is called an allograft.
Soreness at the pelvic incision is expected during early recovery. Some people have donor site pain that lasts longer, so discuss persistent pain with the surgeon.
The iliac crest can provide bone and cells that support healing. The surgeon weighs that benefit against the need for a second incision.
Bone Grafting: What It Is, Types, Risks and Benefits. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16796-bone-grafting. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Harvesting Autogenous Cancellous Bone Graft from the Anterior Iliac Crest. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6292724/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Morbidity associated with anterior iliac crest bone graft harvesting in children undergoing orthopaedic surgery: a prospective review. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4619364/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Prospective study of iliac crest bone graft harvest site pain and morbidity. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19540168/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Trephine Technique for Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvest: Long-term Results. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32947500/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.