Objective: A retrospective study was undertaken to analyze the results of proximal tibial bone grafts with immediate postoperative weight bearing.
Methods: Over a 2-year period, 54 patients underwent bone grafting harvested from the proximal tibia. Postoperatively patients were allowed to bear weight as tolerated on the donor site. Mean follow-up was 26.4 weeks, with a range of 6 to 80 weeks. Indications for bone grafting were fresh fractures with primary grafting and nonunions.
Results: The overall complication rate was 1.9%, with one patient suffering a local hematoma. No major complications such as fracture, sensory deficit, or wound infection were observed. Immediate postoperative weight bearing did not have any deleterious effects. Higher complication rates for iliac graft sites have been reported. The amount of bone that can be harvested is usually more than adequate.
Conclusion: Complication rates are low without significant patient morbidity. Most importantly, the patients may start weight bearing immediately after surgery.