Mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis: review of three techniques

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 111 - 117
• Main Authors: Alkan, A, Özer, M, Baş, B, Bayram, M, Çelebi, N, İnal, S, Özden, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Chin - surgery; Dentistry; Equipment Failure; External Fixators - adverse effects; Female; Gingival Recession - etiology; Humans; Male; Malocclusion - surgery; Mandible - surgery; Medical sciences; Osteogenesis, Distraction - adverse effects; Osteogenesis, Distraction - instrumentation; Osteogenesis, Distraction - methods; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Surgical Wound Infection - etiology; Mandible; Treatment; Stomatology; Surgery; Review; Technique; Distraction osteogenesis; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2006.11.005

Abstract Mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis (MSDO) is an alternative strategy to correct mandibular transverse deficiencies and dental crowding. Only a limited number of practitioners have reported their clinical experience and potential complications of this procedure to widen the mandible in a large case series. This study involved retrospective analysis of 40 patients who underwent mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis. Three different types of distractor were used to widen the mandible: tooth-borne in 21 patients, bone-borne in 5 patients and hybrid (both bone and tooth-borne) in 14 patients. The distraction amount ranged from 7 to 11 mm (mean 7.31 mm). While 39 patients underwent successful mandibular symphyseal distraction, there was one failure. Most of the complications were experienced in bone-borne distractors, such as breakage of the distractor rod, gingival recession, secondary infection and ptosis of the chin. In the light of these findings, it is suggested that a lingually placed tooth-borne hyrax appliance is more suitable and reliable than the other distraction devices. Further larger studies are needed in order to better evaluate the effectiveness of bone-borne or hybrid devices.