Mandibular distraction osteogenesis: At what age to proceed

ObjectiveTo evaluate if there is a difference in mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) treatment success rates and adverse outcomes in newborns, early infants, and older pediatric patients.DesignRetrospective medical review spanning a nine-year period. Ten newborn (≤35 days old), five early infant (36 days–5 months) and eight older pediatric (>5 months) patients underwent MDO for treatment of micrognathia with a severe tongue-based obstruction. Success was defined as avoidance of tracheostomy or CPAP, and decannulation of patients with tracheotomies. Postoperative complications were grouped into minor and major.ResultsMDO successfully treated 90% of newborns, 100% of early infants and 100% of older pediatric patients. There was no difference in the rates of success (p = 0.48), minor (p = 1.00) and major (p = 1.00) postoperative complications between newborns and early infants. Older pediatric patients had no treatment failures, tended to have fewer minor (p = 0.18) and significantly fewer major (p= 0.04) postoperative complications compared to younger patients. The distractor pin mobility (9%) and scar revisions (13%) were uncommon.ConclusionsMandibular distraction osteogenesis is a reliable method for relieving severe tongue-based obstructions in pediatric patients. When comparing newborns and early infant patients, treatment success rates and the occurrence of complications were not found to be different. Older pediatric patients had no treatment failures, and tended to have fewer postoperative complications compared to younger patients.