title: [Distraction osteogenesis of the mandibular ramus in hemifacial microsomia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the application of distraction osteogenesis (DO) of the mandibular ramus in hemifacial microsomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2006, 15 patients with hemifacial microsomia were treated with DO of the ramus, including 12 cases of children and juveniles, 3 cases of grown-ups. Maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy, unilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy, genioplasty and free scapular flaps were selected to perform on the first or secondary stage of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful distraction was achieved in all patients with an average distraction distance of 21.25 mm. The distractor was removed after consolidation proved by clinical examination and X-ray. Facial appearance and and occlusal relationship were improved greatly. The occlusal plane was almost normal. There was no infection, malunion or permanent injury of inferior alveolar nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DO of the ramus is very effective for the correction of severe hemifacial microsomia. It has much better therapeutic effect than traditional orthognathic procedures.
authors: Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors: Zhi-cheng
authors: ZC
authors: Yang
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Biao
authors: B
authors: Yi
authors: Zi-li
authors: ZL
authors: Li
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: Liang
authors: Xiao-xia
authors: XX
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult