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Updated: May 29, 2026
A Mouse Distraction Osteogenesis Model
Published on: November 14, 2018
Mandibular distraction osteogenesis: at what age to proceed
C K Kolstad1, C W Senders, B K Rubinstein
1UC Davis Health System, Department Otolaryngology, 2521 Stockton Blvd, Ste 7200, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States. ckkolstad@aol.com
Insights
Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is effective for treating airway obstruction in pediatric patients. Success rates and complications were similar between newborns and early infants, with older children experiencing fewer major complications.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Severe tongue-based obstruction due to micrognathia presents a significant challenge in pediatric patients.
- Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is a surgical technique used to correct mandibular hypoplasia.
- Understanding age-related outcomes of MDO is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the success rates and adverse outcomes of MDO across different pediatric age groups.
- To evaluate MDO efficacy in newborns, early infants, and older pediatric patients with micrognathia.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of nine years of patient data.
- Patients were categorized into three groups: newborns (≤ 35 days), early infants (36 days–5 months), and older pediatric patients (> 5 months).
- Success was defined by avoiding tracheostomy or CPAP, or successful decannulation. Complications were classified as minor or major.
Main Results:
- MDO achieved high success rates: 90% in newborns, 100% in early infants, and 100% in older pediatric patients.
- No significant differences in success rates or minor/major complications were observed between newborns and early infants.
- Older pediatric patients experienced no treatment failures and showed a trend towards fewer minor and significantly fewer major postoperative complications compared to younger groups.
Conclusions:
- Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is a reliable and effective treatment for severe tongue-based airway obstruction in pediatric patients.
- Treatment outcomes and complication rates are comparable between newborns and early infants undergoing MDO.
- Older pediatric patients demonstrate excellent outcomes with a tendency for fewer complications, highlighting MDO's versatility across age groups.
Objective:
To evaluate if there is a difference in mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) treatment success rates and adverse outcomes in newborns, early infants, and older pediatric patients.
Design:
Retrospective medical review spanning a nine-year period. Ten newborn (≤ 35 days old), five early infant (36 days-5 months) and eight older pediatric (> 5 months) patients underwent MDO for treatment of micrognathia with a severe tongue-based obstruction. Success was defined as avoidance of tracheostomy or CPAP, and decannulation of patients with tracheotomies. Postoperative complications were grouped into minor and major.
Results:
MDO successfully treated 90% of newborns, 100% of early infants and 100% of older pediatric patients. There was no difference in the rates of success (p=0.48), minor (p=1.00) and major (p=1.00) postoperative complications between newborns and early infants. Older pediatric patients had no treatment failures, tended to have fewer minor (p=0.18) and significantly fewer major (p= 0.04) postoperative complications compared to younger patients. The distractor pin mobility (9%) and scar revisions (13%) were uncommon.
Conclusions:
Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is a reliable method for relieving severe tongue-based obstructions in pediatric patients. When comparing newborns and early infant patients, treatment success rates and the occurrence of complications were not found to be different. Older pediatric patients had no treatment failures, and tended to have fewer postoperative complications compared to younger patients.
