Abstract. The reconstruction of large maxillofacial defects generally requires
harvesting bone from extra-oral sites. The main source of autogenous bone is the
iliac crest. This donor site is used to obtain bone for augmentation in orthopaedic
surgery, neurosurgery, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, where the main
indications are secondary and tertiary osteoplasty in patients with cleft-lip and
palate, reconstruction of bony defects after operations for tumours, and
augmentation of severe atrophy of the alveolar crest in preprosthetic surgery. A
review of the literature on complications following bone harvesting from the
anterior iliac crest reveals persistent pain, nerve injury, haemorrhage, limping,
persistent gait abnormalities, conspicuous scarring, bone contour alteration,
infection, fracture, meralgia paraesthetica, peritonitis, and herniation. The authors
report an unusual complication: a huge iliac abscess that appeared 4 years after
bimaxillary surgery involving iliac bone grafts