Influence of distraction osteogenesis in mandibular hypoplasia on the facial development in the growing age

Patients suffering from moderate or severe mandibular hypoplasias often are impaired by functional or aesthetic deficiencies. Multiplanar working mini-elongation devices allow distractions (DO) adapted to the individual hypoplasia and may improve the functional matrix. In more than 50 children who had undergone one or more distraction procedures (0 age DO1: 4.5 years; Re-DO in 25% of all patients; circle divide age DO2: 6.5 years) we analyzed the functional as well as aesthetic outcome (mean follow-up time 6.5 years). Especially in congenital unilateral hypoplasias aesthetic deficiencies are found such as non-harmonic shaping of the mandibular arch or no augmentation of the primarily reduced soft tissues. There is a need for new concepts in managing these patients, using new techniques of soft and hart tissue regeneration in combination with distraction osteogenesis.