Fifteen years of experience with the midfacial distraction without maxillary osteotomy protocol

Midfacial distraction for facial stenosis is minimizing the communication between cranial fossa and nasal fossa caused by the Le Fort III osteotomy during frontofacial advancement procedures. There are different types of distractors, such as internal and external devices. The aim of our study is to present a series of 22 consecutive distraction cases operated without any Le Fort osteotomy with external distraction frames. We completely avoid the gap between the skull and nose, thus avoiding related complications.

Between 1997 and 2012, we operated on 22 patients presenting syndromes associating midfacial retrusion, maxillomandibular class III malocclusion and upper airway obstruction.

We perform a fronto-orbital advancement. We do not perform any maxillary osteotomy. A vertical cut in the lateral orbital wall is done towards the inferior orbital fissure and another cut on the zygomatic arch. We realise the fixation of the frame posteriorly with a folded K-wire and anteriorly with a transmaxillary pin. Aiming overcorrection, we distract on average 1 mm a day for a mean period of 26 days and with a horizontal distraction vector.

No deaths or life-threatening complications were reported. All midfacial retrusions were corrected without relapse. The advancement ranged between 6 and 20 mm. Several complications were notified: one sphenopetrous dislocation, one ethmoidonasal dislocation, two device disassemblages and two cases of maxillary sinusitis. Some of these complications caused an incomplete distraction result.

Compared to other techniques, this method is safe, simple and efficient. By sparing major osteotomies, it avoids severe complications.