• Mickaël Ropars, Alexandre Zadem, Xavier Morandi, Rajiv Kaila, Raphaël Guillin, and Denis Huten.
• Anatomy Laboratory, Faculty of medicine of Rennes, 2 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043, Rennes, France, mickael.ropars@chu-rennes.fr.
• Eur Spine J. 2014 May 1; 23 (5): 1150-5.

PurposeAnterior iliac crest bone is a widely used donor site for bone harvesting. It provides an autologous bone graft consisting of cancellous bone that can be packed or cortical bone with greater structural support. Uses include spinal fusion and fracture non-union surgery. Although its use is common, dedicated anatomical and radiological studies analysing graft dimensions and optimal harvesting site in relation to local anatomical landmarks [anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), anterior iliac tubercle (AIT) and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN)] have not been described.MethodsTwenty-eight female hemipelvises were dissected for this study. The LFCN, ASIS and AIT were identified. Calliper measurements and CT scan analysis were undertaken to determine the optimum positions in obtaining a 5-mm-thickness tricortical graft whilst remaining safe for the LFCN.ResultsAccording to our measurements, the optimal location for harvesting a 5-mm-thick tricortical graft with 35-mm height and 47-mm width is situated anterior to a line passing at the level of the thickest point of the AIT. This thickest point was situated at a mean 67 mm from the centre of the EIAS in our study.ConclusionThis anatomical and radiographic study determined the anatomical iliac crest landmarks to avoid neurological injury when taking an optimal 5-mm-width tricortical bone graft.

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