Treatment of maxillomandibular deformities with internal curvilinear distraction

• Published in: Annals of plastic surgery Vol. 67; no. 6; pp. S1 - S9
• Main Author: Schendel, Stephen A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Craniofacial Abnormalities - surgery; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mandible - abnormalities; Mandible - surgery; Maxilla - abnormalities; Maxilla - surgery; Maxillofacial Development; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures - methods; Osteogenesis, Distraction - methods; Osteotomy - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0148-7043; 1536-3708
• DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3182183599

Internal curvilinear distraction is successful in achieving clinically significant distraction with stable occlusion in our patient population of infants, adolescents, and adults. When distracting the mandible, the curve of the distractor, the position of the distractor, and the osteotomy site are accountable for the final result. The curved distractor can mimic part of the natural logarithmic growth of the maxillomandibular complex. In addition, the result is predictable based on this design and the internal nature of the distractor, which can be left in place longer than other distractor types. Distraction can be combined with orthognathic surgery in certain cases resulting in increased benefit. This new procedure is called distraction orthognathics.