title: A retrospective study of the potential complications during alveolar distraction osteogenesis in 55 patients.
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the outcome of alveolar distraction osteogenesis for the correction of vertical defects in a large series of 55 cases. The existing bone deficiencies were secondary to atrophy after periodontal disease or tooth extraction. The overall success rate of this technique was 89.1%. The complications presented during treatment were divided into minor (no effect on final result, but immediate intervention required) 14/55 patients (25.4%), and major (lead to technique failure) 6/55 patients (10.9%). The frequency of minor complications was 8/27 in the anterior maxillary region, 1/27 in the anterior mandibular region and 15/27 in the posterior mandibular region. The frequency of major complications was 5/6 in the posterior mandibular region and 1/6 in the anterior maxillary region. The mean alveolar height achieved was 6mm. The overall rate was 36.3%. On the basis of these results it was concluded that alveolar distraction osteogenesis is an effective technique to treat vertical alveolar ridge deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Piracicaba Dental School. Campinas State University, Piracicaba - São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzonetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allais
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Maurette
authors.forename: R W F
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000601:surgery; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014716:Vertical Dimension