Advancement of maxillary anterior segment by distraction osteogenesis for severe maxillary retrusion in cleft lip and palate

Background Maxillary anterior segmental distraction osteogenesis （MASDO） is a recently used method for correction of severe maxillary retrusion in cleft lip and palate （CLP） patients.In this article,we evaluated the feasibility of MASDO using rigid external distraction （RED） and rapid orthodontic tooth movement to correct severe maxillary retrusion in CLP patients.Methods Fourteen male and five female complete CLP patients between the ages of 18 and 22 years （mean age 19.7 years） at the time of distraction,with severe maxillary retrusion,were treated with the rigid external distraction （RED） device after maxillary anterior osteotomy.Rapid orthodontic tooth movement was started one week after the MASDO.Standard profile photographic,cephalometric films were obtained preoperatively and after therapy.Sella-nasion-point A （SNA） and Sella-nasion-point B （SNB） angles were measured to reflect changes in maxillary and mandibular position,and the distance between anterior nasal spine and posterior nasal spine （ANS-PNS） was measured to represent the maxillary dental arch length.Results The SNA angle increased from an average of 74.6° （range 73.0°-78.0°）,preoperatively,to 83.4° （range 78.6°-88.0°） after the RED was removed （P ＜0.01）.All cases of severe maxillary retrusion were improved.Nine patients＇ profiles became harmonious after therapy.One patient had a bimaxillary protrusion deformity and needed further surgery.The regenerate alveolar crest and edentulous space on both segments was almost completely eliminated after rapid orthodontic tooth movement.Conclusion MASDO with the RED system and rapid orthodontic tooth movement is a successful way of correcting severe maxillary retrusion in CLP patients.

A novel skeletal anchorage for rigid external distractor

Aim: Maxillofacial surgery has always aimed to find alternative therapies to treat severe maxillary hypoplasia. Distraction osteogenesis of the midface has become the technique with the best functional and aesthetic results. Nevertheless, anchoring a distractor to the middle third of the face continues to involve complex planning. Plus, achieving the desired force vector can sometimes be cumbersome and uncomfortable. The aim of this study is to propose a novel skeletal anchorage technique for the rigid external distractor. Methods:Non-controlled, prospective study of 9 patients with severe midface hypoplasia who were treated with distraction osteogenesis using a rigid external distractor anchored to the infraorbital rims and the bilateral pyriform apertures. The activation phase started the first postoperative day at a rate of 1 mm per day. The consolidation period lasted 6 to 8 weeks. Results: Eight patients achieved the desired distraction objective (24.5 mm on average), with only 1 suffering a 5-mm relapse. None of the patients reported complications. Conclusion:Distraction osteogenesis of the midface by skeletal anchorage is an alternative method when treating patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia. It has significant advantages compared to traditional anchoring because it simplifies the procedure, diminishes the costs and complications.