Step osteotomy technique through intraoral approach for mandibular distraction

ABSTRACT

callus distraction technique was applied clinically for the correction of dentofacial deformity to the patients with hemifacial dysplasia by McCarthy in 1992, many surgeons have tried to apply this method to the maxillofacial region. But this technique has some drawbacks. One of the disadvantages of this technique is extensive scar formation in the facial area, which is a sequelae of extraoral approach for supraperiosteal dissection of the periosteum overlying the mandible. Recently, we have made an effort to perform this technique through intraoral approaches to prevent scar formation on the submandibular area and modified the design of the osteotomy, that is step osteotomy technique, to increase the raw bone surface on both osteotomized segments. The rationale for the application of this step osteotomy technique is to increase the amount of regenerated bone and the length of distraction, to avoid damage of inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle, and to increase initial stability of the splitted segments. Step osteotomy procedure can be done with fine micro-osteotomy saw through subperiosteal tunneling. Extraoral pins should be inserted before making the osteotomy. Since 1994 we have applied this technique at 8 sites in 5 patients with mandibular deficiencies 2 cases of hemifacial microsomia, 1 case of developmental facial asymmetry and 2 cases of mandibular bony defect. Mandibular elongation have been achieved from 12 to 20mm in length. 1 out of 8 site, we experienced non-union in the case of mandibular body defect. Some skeletal relapse and growth retardation phenomenon have been observed in some cases with the longest follow-up of 48 months.