Piezoelectric osteotomy: a new technique for bone surgery-advantages in craniofacial surgery

Introduction Ultrasonic bone cutting is a new surgical technique used in dentistry to section hard tissues without damaging adjacent soft tissues. We hypothesized that such a device could also be useful in craniofacial surgery, particularly during the removal of the superior orbital roof during craniofaciostenosis surgery. Materials and methods An ultrasonic device was employed in different craniofacial surgical procedures: 1. to remove the superior orbital roof in 30 cases of craniofaciostenosis, 2. to perform a Le Fort III osteotomy for the treatment of Crouzon syndrome in two patients, 3. to cut the parietal and frontal bone in 30 cases of craniofaciostenosis. The integrity of soft tissues and surgical time was evaluated. Results Functional results were good without any soft tissue damage appreciated. The overall operative time, however, was increased. Conclusion Piezosurgery is a new technical procedure, which can be advantageous for bone cutting in multiple situations with minimal to no damage in adjacent soft tissues.