Distraction osteogenesis & Orthodontics: A new perspective for management of craniofacial anomalies

During the past 20 years, distraction osteogenesis has emerged as a useful alternative for the management of skeletofacial insufficiencies. Among the plethora of therapeutic alternatives for correcting bony defects, distraction osteogenesis is a surgical technique that uses the human body’s own repairing machinery as an ally for tissue reconstruction under a controlled approach. Pioneered by the Russian surgeon Ilizarov in the 1950s, this technique has found widespread use in the treatment of both syndromic and non-syndromic facial deformity. It is relatively a new procedure with few long term follow up studies reported. A brief compilation of the facts of this relatively new technique, importance of a multi-specialty team and role of orthodontist has been made.