Assembly of Custom Implant and Ready-Made Distractor for Precise Maxillary Movement Vector Control in Cleft Patient...

This study presents a novel approach for maxillary advancement in a patient with cleft lip and palate, utilizing the assembly of a custom titanium implant and a ready-made distractor. The patient exhibited significant maxillary hypoplasia and had concerns regarding the possible deterioration of hypernasality after conventional surgical methods. Distraction osteogenesis was initiated to address these challenges. A custom plate was designed using 3-dimensional printing technology. Integrating the plates with off-the-shelf distractors enables precise control of the distraction vector to optimize surgical precision and outcomes. The treatment plan involved Le Fort I osteotomy, followed by a distraction protocol that achieved a skeletal Class I relationship and total advancement of 7.5 mm and elongation of 2 mm, with no reported complications. This case demonstrates that combining custom implants with standard distractors can provide precise maxillary repositioning at reasonable costs, while mitigating the risks associated with traditional surgical interventions and reducing the need for secondary corrective surgeries.