Tissue transplantations from living donors may concern autologous grafts. Autologous grafts have the advantage of providing active living cells and tissue matrix on the recipient site. They are easily integrated with few local reactions but are necessarily limited in volume and associated with morbidity at the donor site.
With bone autograft donations, the most frequent complications other than those from the anaesthesia, involve the donor site: hematoma, wound infection, persistent pain and nerve injury. After extraction of the autologous bone graft, a bone defect will remain at the donor site; depending of the size, location and configuration of the defect, a mechanical fracture can occur.
Nerve injuries are usually associated with sensory symptoms such as pain, anaesthesia or paraesthesia. Motor sequelae are rare and usually due to a surgical error. Sensory problems are immediate, and often resolve spontaneously within 3 to 6 months. Some are permanent