title: External mandibular distraction in unusual pediatric syndromes with micrognathia and airway obstruction.
abstract: Mandibular hypoplasia is a craniofacial malformation that can cause airway obstruction and may affect the eating process. This anomaly is common in many polimalformed Syndromes, including the Pierre Robin Sequence and the Moebius Syndrome. It is also common in cases related to the dysgenesis of the brainstem. In order to avoid tracheostomy, or to allow for early decannulation in severely affected children, external distraction devices were employed in 3 clinical cases to repair mandibular deficiencies. A successful external mandibular distraction induces the removal of the airway obstruction, allowing spontaneous ventilation without devices, an independent eating process with no need of nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes, apart from the linguistic and facial asymmetry improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Burn Unity, Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Portugal Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal ; Avenida Menéres, No 234, Bloco 2, 4º Frente Esquerdo, 4450-189 Matosinhos Sul-Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo Horta
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Burn Unity, Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Portugal Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Burn Unity, Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Portugal Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Burn Unity, Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Portugal Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
keywords: Distraction; Hypoplasia; Malformation; Mandible; Pediatric