title: Internal mandibular distraction to relieve airway obstruction in children with severe micrognathia.
abstract: Congenital craniofacial malformations such as Pierre Robin sequence or Treacher Collins syndrome are associated with mandibular micrognathia, resulting in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a decreased pharyngeal airway; in severe cases this leads to tracheostomy dependence. We present a series of 18 patients in whom we performed mandibular lengthening using internal distraction devices to relieve airway obstruction. Seven were tracheostomy-dependent and 11 were respiratory distressed without tracheostomy. The mandible was distracted at a rate of 1mm per day. Following 3 months of consolidation for bony maturation, the distraction devices were removed. Results demonstrated forward mandibular elongation of a mean 22mm (range 20-25mm) and an increase in SNB angle and in pharyngeal airway. All patients with tracheostomies were decannulated, and there was an improved airway with resolution of signs and symptoms of OSA and elimination of oxygen requirement in all patients. We conclude that mandibular distraction using internal devices is a useful and comfortable method for younger children to expand the mandible forward and increase the pharyngeal airway.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: adi_rach@netvision.net.il.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rachmiel
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Emodi
authors: Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rachmiel
authors: Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Unit of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Anomalies, School of Oral and Dental Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Aizenbud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008342:Mandibulofacial Dysostosis / Q000150:complications*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D010855:Pierre Robin Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy
keywords: airway obstruction therapy; distraction methods; micrognathism complications, obstructive sleep apnea; osteogenesis