Distraction Osteogenesis

By performing an ostectomy on long bones Ilizarow a Russian orthopaedic surgeon was able to demonstrate that osteogenesis (new bone growth) could be stimulated by distracting in a controlled manner the ostectomised (divided) bone.

This technique has had a major impact in orthopaedic surgery and is a developing technique in oral & maxillofacial surgery. The principal application of the technique is in the following situations :

• vertical bone distraction of the alveolar ridge in the preparation for the placement of intraoral dental implant fixtures
• distraction of the mandible by intraoral or extraoral distracters to produce lengthening, either in a jaw that has failed to develop (eg Treacher Collins) or in deformity produced by major trauma or as a result of tumour resection
• mid-face distraction in selected cases may produce significant advancement without the need for full surgical movement and the placement of bone grafts, by distracting the mid-face from the cranium to correct craniofacial deformity.