Carlino 2016
Carlino 2016
Carlino 2016
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery Volume 27, Number 6, September 2016 1469
Copyright © 2016 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Carlino et al The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery Volume 27, Number 6, September 2016
the amount of maxillary expansion causing large buccal corri- disorders that contraindicated oral surgery. Orthodontic appliances
dors.14,15 Commonly used distraction devices can be divided into were applied before surgery avoiding orthodontic alignment at this
2 systems: bone borne distraction system appliance, dental borne phase. Spaces were orthodontically created between the roots of
distraction systems. Each system has peculiar advantages and dis- incisors on both arches. Mandibular distraction was performed
advantages. Bone-borne distraction systems will result in more under general anesthesia via naso-tracheal intubation. Buccal
efficient basal bone mandibular widening with increased stability mucosa incision was performed on the upper maxilla from 15 to
for dental results.16,17 Disadvantages of this system are the necessity 25 followed by the traditional technique for SARPE. At the lower
of a second surgery stage for appliance removal and encumbrance in jaw a mucosa incision was performed from 32 to 42 in a more buccal
the aesthetic frontal area with also hardware trans-mucosal emer- fashion to leave sufficient amount of mucosa and muscle tissue for
gence.18 Advantages of dental borne appliance consist in no need for proper suture. Periosteal elevation was performed up to the inferior
second surgery removal, no trans-mucosal hardware emergence, and border of the mandible on the lower side and up to the alveolar bone
better aesthetic especially when lingual devices are used.19,20 Dis- on the upper side. Symphysiotomy was performed using a thin
advantages consist in larger expansion amount at dental level in rotating bur from the lower border up to the alveolar bone level
comparison to basal bone level resulting in theoretically more risks avoiding periosteal elevation at the fixed mucosa level and on the
for dental crowding relapse.21 With both systems stability and vector lingual side. In this way, bone fragment nourishment particularly at
distraction control are still a challenge because of the strong masti- the alveolar bone level was preserved. Complete osteotomy was
catory muscles insertions on both sides of the mandibular arch with carried out at the bone level with thin chisels to avoid interdental
high forces application in masticatory cycles, which is impossible to bone septum damage. With this technique also we avoided the risks
avoid in postdistraction and retention periods.22,23 To combine of bone fragment exposure at the osteotomy site (Fig. 1). Following
advantages of both bone-borne and dental-borne systems, we devel- symphysis osteotomy, an immediate bone widening to the extent
oped a new technique adopting an immediate basal bone widening needed was performed and a first level of fixation was applied at the
and fixation after osteotomy and a dental borne rigid system on the basal bone area by a single 3 holes mini plate and only 2 screws
lingual side for distraction. The aim of this work was to show the acting like hinges. Second step was the appliance at the dental level
procedure sequences and clinical results of this new technique for of the distraction anchorage system on first molars and first pre-
symphyseal mandibular distraction based on a double-level ancho- molars connected to a lingual jack screw to achieve an aesthetic and
rage and fixation system. Results obtained so far with the advantages efficient distraction system combining advantages of both bone-
of this new procedure are discussed. borne and dental-borne appliance commonly used for mandibular
distraction. At the lower border level immediate bone widening was
METHODS possible because of the intrinsic regenerative properties of this
In this study, we selected adult patients over 18 years of age affected mandibular bone area. Stability was sufficient because of the
by dento-alveolar maxillary and mandibular transversal collapse combination of the mini plate at the lower border with the
even in association with other skeletal malocclusion. Patients with anchorages of the dental level distraction system with its intrinsic
systemic or psychological disorders that contraindicate oral surgery rigidity able to resist to the masticatory forces. At the alveolar level
were excluded from the study; also neoplastic pathologies or precise positioning of the 2 bone fragments was achieved using a
previous treatment with bisphosphonate drugs were considered very stable and rigid appliance compound of 4 bands on first molars
excluding factors. From the study were also excluded patients and premolars casted with the arms of an orthodontic jack screw
whom underwent other surgical procedures except surgical assisted positioned on the lingual side. This system increases mandibular
rapid palatal expansion (SARPE), bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, transversal dimension by rotating the 2 mandibular halves in a
genioplasty, Le Fort I osteotomy. All surgeries were performed by transversal direction up to the desired dimension for an optimal final
the same surgeon (Franco Carlino). All patients were informed result. Therefore, the treatment sequence consists in a first surgical
about the study protocol and surgical risks; a written consent was stage with symphyseal osteotomy and mandibular base widening to
obtained in all patients explaining alternatives, advantages, and
disadvantage of the surgical intervention. The study was conducted
in accordance with the ethical principles provided by the Declara-
tion of Helsinki and the principles of good clinical practice, under
the IRB protocol number 38/06. Patients were analyzed preopera-
tively before orthodontic appliance positioning (T0), preoperatively
after orthodontic appliance positioning before teeth alignment (T1),
after surgery before distraction (T2), after distraction before teeth
alignment (T3), after orthodontic teeth alignment (T4), 1 year after
surgery (T5). Patients were studied by X-ray orthopantomography,
X-ray cephalograms in lateral-frontal and -axial view and finally
dental model measurements at T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. Dental
measurements were performed on buccal mesial cusps transversal
distance of first molars, first premolars, and canines. Measurements
on X-ray cephalograms in frontal view were performed on the
transversal distance of the lateral polar condyle, gonion and anti-
gonion points at times T0, T4, T5, avoiding X-ray exposure at T1,
T2, T3. Pictures of the face and occlusal view at both lateral and
frontal views of the patient were taken at T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5.
FIGURE 1. Surgical technique: (A) the mandibular base is widened for the
Surgical Technique necessary amount. (B) Distraction screw is activated the following week, the 2
Two patients were selected for this new technique. The surgery bone screws act as hinges. (C) The mandible is thus widened at the alveolar
was not performed in patients with systemic or psychological ridge level.
Copyright © 2016 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery Volume 27, Number 6, September 2016 Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction
Patient 1
A 30-year-old patient was referred to our Department for a class dislocation. Dental arches were then orthodontically aligned
II malocclusion with skeletal open bite transversal collapse and (Fig. 5). Finally, a multisegment bimaxillary osteotomy was per-
crowding of both maxilla and dental arches (Fig. 2). The patient’s formed for definitive correction of the skeletal malocclusion with
past medical and social history were noncontributory, and he had open bite closure. Optimal regeneration of the alveolar bone at the
good oral hygiene. Spaces between central incisors roots were osteotomy site was achieved as documented by postdistraction
created on both arches by orthodontic treatment before surgery. orthopantomography and periodontal probing at 6 months
Distraction devices comprehensive of orthodontic expansion screws after surgery.
with their arms casted with 4 bands were applied on both dental
arches at palatal and lingual sides (Fig. 3). Patient 2
Under general anesthesia a traditional maxillary surgically Patient 2 was a 26-year-old patient referred to our Department
assisted expansion was performed. In the mandible a vertical affected by hyperdivergent skeletal open bite with bimaxillary
symphysis osteotomy was conducted between roots incisors by a dental arch crowding and transversal collapse (Fig. 6). The patient’s
lower buccal incision without touching the gingiva at the alveolar past medical and social history were noncontributory, and he had
and lingual sides. The 2 mandibular halves were intentionally good oral hygiene. Orthodontic jackscrew was casted with 4 bands
opened to the final required wideness at basal bone level; con- on first molars and first premolars. Osteotomies were performed for
versely, the dental-borne distractor achieved a precise bone contact surgical assisted maxillary expansion on the upper jaws and another
at the alveolar bone level. The 2 halves were fixed with the orthodontic jackscrew casted with 4 bands on first molars and
miniplate at the lower mandibular border with only 1 screw on premolars was set on the lingual side of the mandibular arch.
each side (Fig. 4). Because space was detected only between the 41 and 42 roots,
Jackscrews activation allowed maxillary distraction for the mandibular symphysiotomy was performed in a ‘‘z’’ fashion to
upper jaw and contemporary mandibular transversal distraction safely perform distraction. Mandibular basal bone was immediately
by lateral rotation of the 2 mandibular halves with hinges on the widened up to the final amount needed and fixed with 3-hole mini
2 bone screws. At the mandibular level the combination of the 2 plates with only 2 screws (Fig. 7). At the alveolar bone level precise
basal bone and dental borne systems allowed a transversal con- bone contact was achieved to obtain alveolar bone preservation
trolled expansion avoiding unwanted mandibular halves
RESULTS
The results were optimal with perfect arches alignment and closing
of the open bites with multiple-segmented surgery in a second
surgical time. There were no complications, and the transversal
increase was made both by basal bone (immediately at the first
surgical time) and by osteo-distraction with dental bone distractor at
alveolar bone level. No relapses were reported after 1 year. Details
of the dental and X-ray measurements are reported in Table 1. No
misalignment of the 2 mandibular halves was noticed during the
distraction procedure.
There was a considerable improvement of the aesthetics of the FIGURE 7. Patient 2: (A) maxillary teeth borne distractor; (B) osteotomy for
maxillary surgical expansion; (C) symphysiotomy performed in a ‘‘Z’’ fashion;
smile with the disappearance of black corridors. In both patients at (D) screw activation widens the alveolar process, with hinge on the 2 fixation
the dental level we achieved a greater range of expansion screws.
Copyright © 2016 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery Volume 27, Number 6, September 2016 Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction
TABLE 1. Dental Measurements of Selected Patients at T0 (Preoperatively Before Orthodontic Appliance Positioning), T1 (Preoperatively After Orthodontic Appliance
Positioning Before Teeth Alignment), T2 (After Surgery Before Distraction), T3 (After Distraction Before Teeth Alignment), T4 (After Orthodontic Teeth Alignment), and
T5 (1 Yr After Surgery)
and some breakage of the appliance.11,31 Also soft tissue lesions are basal bone allowing immediate bone expansion of the symphysis
most commonly seen in distraction bone borne and hybrid appli- in combination with precise positioning of the bone fragments at the
ances consisting in sores of oral mucosa and lips.31,32 In the first of bone alveolar level, thereby avoiding septum damage. System
our patients mild gingival recession was noticed for central lower stiffness results in full control of the distraction vectors with full
incisors related to orthodontic treatment movements because post- satisfactory and stable final result. Aesthetic of the smile was
operative integrity of bone septum at the osteotomy site was preserved during treatment by using a lingual dental-borne device
preserved as shown in X-ray orthopantomography after distraction and avoiding second surgery need for appliance removal.
(Fig. 5G).
Other complications may arise both by tooth-borne and bone-
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