Use of an internal bidirectional distractor to elongate goats' mandibles

We investigated the feasibility of using an internal bidirectional mandibular distractor to elongate the mandibular bodies and rami of 4 mature male goats. An osteotomy was made at the right mandibular angle and the distractor placed within the osteotomy and allowed to heal in place for 5 days. The mandibles were simultaneously distracted vertically and horizontally at a rate of 0.5mm/day for 30 days. After a 12-week consolidation period, all the goats were killed for gross, radiographic, and histological evaluation. Smooth new bone had been restored in the distracted area after 12 weeks' consolidation, and the gross, radiographic, and histological evaluations showed that the new bone was similar to the native bone. These results suggest that the internal bidirectional distractor could permit bidirectional distraction osteogenesis in a goat model.