Pamper Your Teeth

What is a hip graft?

One of the easiest ways for the surgeon to obtain bone to graft major deficiencies in the jaw bone is to use bone from the hip. A ‘hip graft’ involves collecting bone from the pelvis above the hip joint. You can usually feel the area of bone that will be used since it forms a bony lump some six inches (20cm) above and in front of the hip joint.

What does the surgery involve?

This surgery must be performed under general anaesthesia and you may need to be hospitalised. The procedure takes 2 hours or more. A cut will be made through the skin immediately overlying the section of bone that will be removed. The length of the cut depends on how much bone your surgeon needs. If only a small amount of bone is required the cut may only be a couple of inches long.

What will the area be like once the bone has been removed?

At the end of the operation the incision will be carefully stitched together. Depending on the amount of bone that is removed, a small plastic tube (‘drain’) may be placed into the wound. This tube is connected to a bottle and allows any tissue fluid or blood to drain out of the wound. The drain usually stays in place for a day or so.

What can I expect after the operation?

• The hip tends to be sore for at least a few days even if only a small amount of bone has been collected.
• If large amounts of bone have been removed, the area may be sore for a couple of weeks.
• As the area around the hip is sore you may have some problems walking and you may need to use a walking stick for a few weeks after the operation.