Treatment of mandibular retrusion by distraction osteogenesis: a new technique

We treated the mandibular retrusion of a 20-year-old man by distraction osteogenesis. Our aim was to avoid any visible discontinuities in the soft tissue profile that may result from conventional 'one-step' genioplasty. The result was excellent. In addition to a good aesthetic outcome, there was increased bone formation not 'only between the two surfaces of the osteotomy but also adjacent to the distraction zone, resulting in improved coverage of the roots of the lower incisors. Only a few patients have been treated so far, but the method seems to hold promise for the treatment of extreme retrognathism, as these patients often have insufficient buccal bone coverage. (C) 2004 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.