Limb length discrepancy and segmental bone defects can be difficult problems to manage after fractures of the lower limb. Distraction osteogenesis can be applied to lengthen bone or to bridge intercalary defects by segmental bone transport. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional outcome and long-term quality of life after distraction osteogenesis of the lower limb when applied f...

We developed a rat model of limb lengthening to study the basic mechanism of distraction osteogenesis, using a small monolateral external fixator. In 11-week-old male rats we performed a subperiosteal osteotomy in the midshaft of the femur with distraction at 0.25 mm every 12 hours from seven days after operation. Radiological and histological examinations showed a growth zone of constant thick...

BACKGROUND Distraction osteogenesis is the standard treatment for the management of lower limb length discrepancy of more than 3 cm and bone loss secondary to congenital anomalies, trauma or infection. This technique consists of an osteotomy of the bone to be lengthened, application of an external fixator, followed by gradual and controlled distraction of the bone ends. Although limb lengthenin...

Evaluation of the material properties of regenerate bone is of fundamental importance to a successful outcome following distraction osteogenesis using an external fixator. Plain radiographs are in widespread use for assessment of alignment and the distraction gap but are unable to detect bone formation in the early stages of distraction osteogenesis and do not quantify accurately the structural...

BACKGROUND The authors performed a critical literature review to find evidence of the long-term stability after early distraction osteogenesis of the mandible in patients with hemifacial microsomia. METHODS The PubMed, Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched systematically for studies performed between 2002 and 2008. Abstracts from the 89 relevant articles were ...

Distraction osteogenesis (callotasis) has been widely used in patients with limb-length inequality or massive bone defects. This procedure, however, may be associated with a high incidence of physical and psychosocial complications. Callotasis telescoping on a locked intramedullary nail has been used to shorten the period of external fixation. Little attention has been given to the use of locke...

Treatment of tibial osteomyelitis with infected, necrotic, unstable bone segments (Cierny-Mader Type IV local osteomyelitis) includes débridement and segmental resection, which results in long bone defects. Reconstruction may be with distraction osteogenesis. Segmental bone transport and acute compression and distraction techniques are two main distraction osteogenesis techniques used in the tr...

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the sequential treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis with secondary deformities by distraction osteogenesis Methods: We retrospected 40 patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis, whose age varied from 9 to 53 years old (average 24.5 years old), in department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, the Fourth Military Medica...

Distraction osteogenesis is extensively used for the elongation of hypoplastic mandibles in children, yet the soft tissue profile response to this is not well understood. The pre- and posttreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 27 pediatric patients who underwent bilateral mandibular elongation using distraction osteogenesis were analyzed retrospectively to correlate horizontal soft tiss...

Mid-facial distraction osteogenesis is a novel promising method to correct severe mid-facial hypoplasia and retrognathia. Although aesthetic improvements are obvious, the analysis of three-dimensional bony changes created through distraction was impossible so far. Now, we present a tool chain employing voxel based registration and 3D visualisation to assess and analyse the structural changes in...