title: Unilateral mandibular ramus elongation by intraoral distraction osteogenesis.
abstract: Successful correction of facial asymmetry by mandibular distraction osteogenesis relies on mastering vector control. Lack of necessary vector control continues to compromise the treatment modality. The purpose of this study was to describe a new simplified method for vector transfer and to evaluate this method according to the outcome and the efficacy of distraction osteogenesis in the correction of unilateral mandibular hypoplasia and asymmetry. Twenty-seven patients with unilateral hypoplasia of the mandibular ramus underwent unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis with intraoral distraction devices. Posterior-anterior and lateral cephalograms were analyzed by digitalization. Changes in sagittal, vertical, and transversal linear and angular dimensions after the distraction treatment were evaluated by measurements performed on headfilms taken before and after surgery. Means and variances were calculated for selected cephalometric variables for each time point. The differences between the control and the treatment side were calculated, statistically described, and compared with a paired Student t test. Correction of the mandibular asymmetry, chin position, and the canting of the occlusal plane was obtained in all patients clinically, as well as radiographically, by the use of intraoral unidirectional distraction osteogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Noerrebrogade 44, Bygn 9D, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. thomas.kofod@as.aaa.dk
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kofod
authors.forename: Sven Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nørholt
authors.forename: Thomas Klit
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin / Q000473:pathology; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012399:Rotation; D016896:Treatment Outcome