Ethical and scientific decision making in distraction osteogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a prospective registry for distraction osteogenesis research. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 82 reports, of which 11 were review articles, 17 were animal studies, 5 were theoretical models, and 49 were case reports/series. CONCLUSIONS: So far, the literature concerning distraction osteogenesis does not allow reliable choices to be made on the most appropriate form of distraction osteogenesis in different clinical decisions or whether it is superior to osteotomy or nontreatment. A prospective registry is proposed to hasten critical appraisal of distraction osteogenesis.