Distraction osteogenesis in Silver Russell syndrome to expand the mandible

Distraction osteogenesis is a method commonly used to activate bone regener ation in nonunions and osseous defects and for lengthening procedures of tu bular bones. This technique involves the sectioning of a bone and the subse quent deliberate, controlled movement of the opposing sectioned edges to le ngthen, widen, or reposition a bone, or all three. In this report, a patien t with Silver Russell syndrome and severe mandibular hypoplasia was treated by means of distraction osteogenesis of the midsymphysis to widen the mand ible in concert with sagittal-ramus osteotomies to lengthen the mandible. T his treatment created significantly increased arch length in the mandible, which was necessary to facilitate the patient's orthodontic treatment. We b elieve this is the first reported case of distraction osteogenesis to widen the mandible with the use of a tooth-borne appliance.