EVALUATION OF DISTRACTION OSTEOGENESIS IN LENGTHENING THE MANDIBLE (EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)

Abstract

Distraction osteogenesis is the biologic process of new bone formation between bone segments that are gradually separated by incremental traction It also could be defined by a technique of generating new bone by stretching the callus". This method was initially emerged in orthopedic surgery, and it is now an established method in the management of maxillofacial deformities. Many advantages of this technique made it superior in its results over the conventional orthognathic technique. Among these advantages is simultaneous expansion of the soft tissue that occur parallel with the skeletal expansion. Elimunation of need for bone graft, early intervention and minimal surgical work are another advantages of the technique! The present study was conducted to evaluate the mandible elongation by this technique. Eight young adult goats were served as experimental subjects. Unilateral lengthening of the mandibular body was performed successfully. Histological studies revealed that the elongation was by means of adding new bone. Radiographic evaluation showed that elongation of the mandibular body was not linear that may be explained by absence of predetermined vector of distraction or incomplete separation of the osteotomized bone ends at the superior margin.