Mandibular distraction osteogenesis in a neonate

Children with craniofacial anomalies are predisposed to airway obstruction and frequently require airway intervention. Tracheotomy is performed when t he airway obstruction is severe and refractory to other less invasive inter ventions. Tracheotomy is associated with significant morbidity, and there i s a trend noted in the literature toward achieving earlier decannulation by the institution of definitive structural changes to the mandible. Mandibul ar distraction osteogenesis has been shown to alleviate airway obstruction in the pediatric population. We report a case in which mandibular distracti on osteogenesis was successfully carried out in a neonate with acute airway obstruction at birth as a result of combined Pierre Robin sequence and Kli ppel-Feil syndrome. After 1 year, the patient still had an adequate airway with tolerable scarring and no neurologic sequelae.