title: Piezoelectric osteotomy for distraction osteogenesis of the pediatric mandible.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Distraction osteogenesis of the mandible requires a complete osteotomy so that the proximal and distal segments may be separated, thereby producing length. One of the main complications of this technique is lingual nerve injury due to trauma induced by either the saw or the osteotome. The purpose of this article was to suggest the use of piezosurgery in performing near-complete osteotomy of either the body or ramus of the mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical procedure was performed under general anesthesia, and it lasted approximately 90 minutes. After the buccal cortex of the mandible was dissected, a piezosurgical device was used for the planned osteotomy. The gap created by the device allowed visualization of the nerve, thereby permitting completion osteotomy of the lingual cortex. The patient did not show any neurological postoperative complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of piezoelectric surgery appears to be a safer option in performing distraction osteogenesis of the pediatric mandible. The presumed disadvantage of this technique, notably an increased operating time due to the lower power cut of the piezoelectric device, was not encountered.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Kravis Children's Hospital, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D063168:Mandibular Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008342:Mandibulofacial Dysostosis / Q000601:surgery; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000601:surgery; D061646:Operative Time; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D059745:Piezosurgery / Q000379:methods*