Thirty Years Later: What Has Craniofacial Distraction Osteogenesis Surgery Replaced?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article and viewing the video, the participant should be able to: 1. Compare the relative stability and neurosensory changes following mandible distraction osteogenesis with those after traditional advancement and fixation. 2. Describe the condylar changes that can occur after mandible distraction osteogenesis and list three ways to mitigate these changes. 3. Propose clinical situations where segmental or rotational movements of the midface may allow improved outcomes compared to en bloc linear distraction advancement. 4. Summarize the advantages and risks associated with anterior and posterior cranial distraction osteogenesis compared to traditional one-stage expansion. SUMMARY: Over the past 30 years, distraction forces have been applied to the spectrum of craniofacial osteotomies. It is now time to assess critically the current understanding of distraction in craniofacial surgery, identifying both traditional procedures it has replaced and those it has not. This article provides a review of comparative studies and expert opinion on the current state of craniofacial distraction compared with traditional operations. Through this critical evaluation, the reader will be able to identify when distraction techniques are appropriate, when traditional techniques are more favorable, and what the future of distraction osteogenesis is.

Curvilinear Segmental Mandibular Reconstruction Utilizing Distraction Osteogenesis and Early Open Callus Manipulation.

The authors present a new technique for reconstruction of large curvilinear mandibular defects with distraction osteogenesis and early open callus manipulation. In phase 1, transport disks are created from mandibular bone and distracted across the entire length of the defect, without the restriction from a mandible plate fixation. This allows for full-length distraction until enough regenerate is obtained to reconstruct the defect without the need for additional bone grafts. Taking advantage of the soft moldable regenerate, the second and final operative procedure allows for the manipulation, repositioning, and fixation of the transported segments in the ideal position creating perfect tridimensional form and symmetry of the mandible arch. In addition, the consolidation phase is shortened by the early removal of distractors, substantially reducing the total length of treatment. This article describes 2 clinical cases treated according to this technique, one with a 6-cm mandibular defect where a sagittal plane manipulation was performed, and the other with a 7-cm defect and axial plane manipulation. Five years postsurgery, both patients had achieved full stable reconstruction without the need for bone grafting, and had obtained good facial symmetry, with no recorded complications. This technique serves to establish bone transport as a valuable alternative to bone free flaps in the reconstruction of large curvilinear segmental mandibular defects.

Immediate Reconstruction of Large Full-Thickness Segmental Anterior Maxillary Defect with Bone Transport.

Maxillary segmental defects are a reconstructive challenge particularly when the anterior arch is involved. Missing bone, mucosa, and teeth should be replaced; fistulae closure should be guaranteed by bone and mucosa continuity; stable functional occlusion should be achieved; and facial aesthetics restored. These defects resulting from tumor excisions, if left untreated, will cause additional problems related to interposed scar and collapse of lip and nose. Immediate reconstruction should avoid these problems and should be considered when safe tumor-free margins are obtained. This study describes the treatment of such a defect resulting from a myxoma excision, with trifocal distraction requiring only one additional surgery. Internal distractors were fixed bilaterally for transport of two segmental discs created by inverted L osteotomies at the same surgical time of tumor excision. A second surgery was performed after central contact between transport discs was achieved, for device removal and creation of a dynamic system to regenerate molding and compression-focus development. This was accomplished by internal fixation of one side and central fixation of a full-open distractor to act as compression device when reversely activated. Central perfect adaptation between transported segments and good-quality attached mucosa lining the alveolar crest were determinant to obtain a stable functional and aesthetic result.