[An adjustable distractor for transverse maxillary distraction osteogenesis]

Area of Science:

• Orthognathic surgery
• Craniofacial reconstruction
• Distraction osteogenesis

Context:

• Conventional Surgical Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion (SARME) yields limited posterior skeletal widening.
• Integrating Le Fort I osteotomy with palatal distraction was previously challenging due to hardware limitations.
• A new device enables combined Le Fort I procedures with bipartite palatal distraction.

Purpose:

• To introduce a novel bipartite palatal distractor system.
• To describe the technical features and clinical applications of the new device.
• To evaluate its potential in correcting complex maxillofacial deformities.

Summary:

• A new palatal distractor features independent jacks for adjustable anterior/posterior distraction, available in bone-borne and tooth-borne designs.
• The distractor allows for sagittal adjustment, enabling angular or parallel distraction modes adaptable during post-operative care.
• It integrates with sliding osteosynthesis for combined Le Fort I osteotomy, addressing vertical, horizontal, and sagittal deficiencies.

Impact:

• Facilitates simultaneous correction of multiple maxillofacial skeletal discrepancies.
• Offers enhanced flexibility in managing complex cases requiring both advancement/impaction and transverse expansion.
• Represents a significant advancement in surgical assisted maxillofacial reconstruction.