Minimally invasive iliac cancellous bone graft harvesting.

We have described a technique for harvesting cancellous bone from the ilium that is minimally invasive and safe. This technique results in minimal donor-site morbidity, is quick and easy to perform without the need for special equipment or instruments, and allows a two-team operative approach. Sufficient bone graft material can be obtained for wide or bilateral clefts. We now use this technique routinely to harvest cancellous bone for secondary alveolar bone grafting in children with clefts. The procedure could be used in adults, it could also be used to obtain bone graft for treating other conditions, and other donor sites could be approached with the same technique.