For the purposes of this article, lengthening of the mandible is subdivided into vertical lengthening of the ramus as in patients with hemifacial microsomia and horizontal lengthening of the mandibular…
Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a surgical technique for reconstruction of bony deformities. It involves making osteotomies in the bone and gradually displacing the two bony segments apart. This results in…
Unfortunately, few of these issues are or can be addressed by distractors that are commercially available today. Extraoral distractors, especially those applied to the mandible, are relatively easy to apply…
Review of bone mechanics To begin to understand the effects of mechanical forces on bone, such as those that occur during distraction osteogenesis (DO), it is necessary to consider the…
Before any definitive treatment of mandibular fractures, the patient needs to be evaluated for more potentially life-threatening injuries. Complications can and do occur with treatment of mandibular fractures and can…
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must constantly weigh the risks of surgical intervention for pediatric mandible fractures against the wonderful healing capacity of children. The majority of pediatric mandibular fractures can…
Edentulous or atrophic mandible fractures are rare and potentially problematic for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. With the loss of teeth, atrophy of the alveolar bony apparatus ensues, creating a…
