Use of distraction osteogenesis in orthognathic surgery

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a surgical technique that takes advantage of natural wound healing mechanisms to augment bone and soft tissues. DO is extremely versatile and can be applied to nearly any bone. In the craniofacial skeleton, the cranial vault, midface, maxilla and mandible are the most common sites for DO. This technique allows larger skeletal movements than could be achieved with conventional techniques, decreases operative time and blood loss, eliminates the need for bone grafts and associated donor site morbidity, and may improve postoperative stability. DO can be used in preparation for, in lieu of, or in combination with orthognathic surgery to correct dentofacial deformities. DO requires meticulous planning to achieve optimal results. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.