A new way to anchor the external device in mandibular distraction: three case reports with a Pierre Robin sequence

Pierre Robin sequence is a pathology derived from alteration in the first and second branchial arch. Patients have breathing problems due to micrognathia and glossoptosis, causing severe upper airway obstruction. One surgical treatment is distraction osteogenesis. Three patients with Pierre Robin sequence (case 1, 3 months old; cases 2 and 3, 1 month old) with severe upper airway obstruction requiring mechanical ventilator assistance, underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis prematurely with a new anchoring system, thus avoiding tracheostomy and its consequences. An intraoral approach was used to avoid scarring. A new anchoring device with transfixing Kirschner wire in the proximal (mandibular ramus) and distal segment (chin zone) was used. This diminishes the risk of distractor device displacement, guaranteeing optimal stability. A more anterior installation reduces the risk of damaging tooth buds in the mandibular body and the inferior alveolar nerve. The more anterior the fixation, the more horizontal the distraction vector becomes. The position and stability of the device are crucial. In these three patients the placement of two transfixing Kirschner wires using an intraoral approach showed good results and stability during the period of distraction and consolidation, with optimal results on the upper airway, avoiding tracheostomy.