Donor site morbidity of rib graft harvesting in primary alveolar cleft bone grafting

The use of the rib for primary alveolar cleft bone grafting offers one of the few donor sites for grafting under one year of age. Its use in 211 patients in an 11 year period revealed no morbidity other than a small donor scar. Rib grafting in infants differs significantly from that in teenagers and adults with minimal pain, no risk of pneumothorax when properly performed, and more than an adequate stock of bone for the alveolar defect.