Correction of Mandibular Retrognathia and Laterognathia by Distraction Osteogenesis: Follow up of 5 cases

This article evaluates the use of distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of mandibular retrognathia and laterognathia and the long term treatment results of the patients treated with this technique. The procedure was carried out in 5 subjects (3 males and 2 females, mean age 18.4 years) aged between 14 years and 27 years. In patients treated with bilateral mandibular distraction, it was observed that the ANB angle decreased by a mean of 5 degrees , the mandibular corpus length increased by a mean of 14.5 mm and the overjet decreased by a mean of 12.2 mm after treatment. In patients treated with unilateral mandibular distraction, a mean of 3.5 degrees reduction was achieved in ANB angle, the mandibular corpus length increased by a mean of 5.5 mm and a mean of 7 mm correction was achieved in relation to craniofacial midline with treatment. One of these patients showed an increase of 10 mm in ramus height on the affected side and a decrease of 5 degrees in gonial angle whereas the other one showed an increase of 12.5 degrees in gonial angle and an increase of 11 mm in ramus height on the affected side after treatment. The most significant long term relapse was observed in one of the patients treated with bilateral mandibular distraction. Long term relapse seen in the rest of the patients was within clinically acceptable limits. It can be concluded that distraction of the deformed mandible is a feasible and effective technique for treating mandibular retrognathia and laterognathia. However, it must be borne in mind that accurate placement of the distractors and determining the correct distraction vector are crucial factors that have an influence on long term clinical success.