In recent, distraction osteogenesis has been used to correct skeletal malformations and discrepancies in the craniofacial area. It also seems to be considered as an alternative in the treatment of severe midfacial hypoplasia. There are some types of distractors for midfacial distraction such as subcutaneous distractors and rigid external distractors. We used a rigid external distractor for correction (RED) of craniofacial hypoplasia. Seven patients underwent a midfacial distraction osteogenesis with a rigid external distractor between April 2000 and July 2001. Three patients suffered from Apert's syndrome, three patients from Crouzon's syndrome, and one patient suffered from midfacial hypoplasia due to midfacial radiotheraphy during childhood. On average, the mean distance of distraction was 19.8mm (10~25mm) and the distraction lasted for 24 days. The patients showed no severe complications like infections, optic disturbance, or wrong distraction vectors. One patient complained pain on the site of the occipital fixation of the distractor. In one patient who underwent subtotal craniectomy 3 months before Le Fort III distraction, the distractor was dislocated as the cranial bone was too weak to support the distractor. This report reveals that the application of rigid external distractor and transfacial pull results in an exact control of the distraction vectors and an excellent correction of midfacial hypoplasia without any severe complications.
Humans ; Osteogenesis, Distraction*

Adequate alveolar bone height and width are required for the successful placement of dental implants. Conventional therapeutic regimens for alveolar atrophy are bone grafts or augmentation using allografts and membrane (GBR). Conventional graft techniques have some limitations and complications such as infection, soft tissue problem and high resorption rate. Recently, distraction osteogenesis of alveolar bone is considered as a new alternative for ridge augmentation. Distraction osteogenesis was originally defined and popularized by Ilizarov for lengthening of long bone. Some clinicians have tried to apply distraction osteogenesis in treatment of maxillofacial discrepancies. It was also used to augment alveolar bone. Cologne study group successfully applied the technique for augmentation of alveolar bone and designed several miniplate-distractor systems fabricated by Martin Medizintechnik GmbH in Germany. Vertical distraction of alveolar bone was successfully completed in 104 patients with miniplate-distractor systems. The mean distance of distraction was 10.2mm (range: 6-15 mm) and the mean length of segment was 45 mm (range: 6-127 mm). 162 dental implants in 54 patients were placed immediately or 4 weeks later after removal of the distractor. The results of our study show that vertical distraction of alveolar bone is an effective and reliable technique to restore alveolar atrophy and alveolar vertical defect caused by trauma or tumor.
Allografts ; Atrophy ; Dental Implants* ; Germany ; Humans ; Membranes ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Transplants