WORLD JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY
Sat, Sep 5, 2026
[Archive]
Mohammad Javad Moghaddas1 
, Saeedeh Khajehahmadi2 , Amin Rahpeyma2 , Mostafa Alizadeh Abkooh3 , Shayan Yousefi4 , Abdolrahim Shams *5
, Saeedeh Khajehahmadi2 , Amin Rahpeyma2 , Mostafa Alizadeh Abkooh3 , Shayan Yousefi4 , Abdolrahim Shams *5
1- Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
4- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ,rahim.sh05@gmail.com
2- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
4- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ,
Abstract: (7 Views)
Background: Alveolar bone grafting is crucial for repairing alveolar clefts, yet the optimal source for autogenous grafts remains under debate. Calvarial bone grafting, harvested using a manual scraping technique, may offer an effective alternative to more conventional donor sites, such as the iliac crest and mandibular ramus, with reduced complications and improved graft quality.
Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, outcomes, and donor site morbidity associated with using cranial bone harvested by a scraper technique for alveolar cleft grafting.
Methods: Five non-syndromic patients (aged 9–34 years) with unilateral or bilateral alveolar clefts underwent cranial bone grafting using a manual scraper. The primary outcome was bone fill, assessed radiographically by Bergland criteria at three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included donor site morbidity, operative time, and postoperative pain levels.
Results: Successful bone fill (Bergland types 1 or 2) was achieved in 4 out of 6 cleft sites. On average, 3 ml of bone was harvested with a mean harvesting time of 23 min. Patients reported mild incisional pain post-surgery, which decreased within one week, and no cases of infection, wound dehiscence, hematoma, or hair loss were observed at the donor site.
Conclusion: Cranial bone harvesting by a scraper technique appears to be a viable, minimally invasive method for alveolar cleft repair, offering high graft quality with low donor site morbidity. Further studies with larger samples and comparator groups are recommended to establish this technique as a routine option for secondary alveolar bone grafting in cleft patients.
Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, outcomes, and donor site morbidity associated with using cranial bone harvested by a scraper technique for alveolar cleft grafting.
Methods: Five non-syndromic patients (aged 9–34 years) with unilateral or bilateral alveolar clefts underwent cranial bone grafting using a manual scraper. The primary outcome was bone fill, assessed radiographically by Bergland criteria at three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included donor site morbidity, operative time, and postoperative pain levels.
Results: Successful bone fill (Bergland types 1 or 2) was achieved in 4 out of 6 cleft sites. On average, 3 ml of bone was harvested with a mean harvesting time of 23 min. Patients reported mild incisional pain post-surgery, which decreased within one week, and no cases of infection, wound dehiscence, hematoma, or hair loss were observed at the donor site.
Conclusion: Cranial bone harvesting by a scraper technique appears to be a viable, minimally invasive method for alveolar cleft repair, offering high graft quality with low donor site morbidity. Further studies with larger samples and comparator groups are recommended to establish this technique as a routine option for secondary alveolar bone grafting in cleft patients.
Keywords: Autogenous bone grafting, Alveolar bone graft, Alveolar cleft, Bone scraper, Calvarial bone graft
Type of Study: Original Article |
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