Forty patients since 1988 have had distal tibial bone grafting for 41
arthrodeses of the foot and ankle, Bone graft is obtained through a co
rtical window made just above the medial metaphyseal distal tibial fla
re. Average follow-up was 23.3 months, Forty of 41 arthrodesis sites f
used; there was only one nonunion. There were no delayed unions. There
were no complications at the donor site based on patient examination
and radiographs, Ipsilateral ankle motion was not affected by the bone
graft procedure. Cited complications from iliac crest bone graft incl
ude donor site pain, blood loss, heterotopic bone formation, pelvic in
stability, iliac hernia, infection, fracture, and deformity. Complicat
ions with allografts include disease transmission and immune response.
These are avoided by using locally obtained distal tibia autograft fo
r arthrodeses in the foot and ankle.