A osteogenesis distraction device enabling control of vertical direction for syndromic craniosynostosis.

Distraction techniques with a variety of external and internal distraction systems have been successfully used to advance the midface.1–6 However, external distraction devices generally cannot deliver adequate distraction forces for lengthening; as a result, the distraction achieved is limited.7,8 On the other hand, internal distraction devices do not allow control of the postfixation distraction vector.9 We have developed a hybrid facial distraction system (HFDS) leveraging the advantages of external and internal distraction devices.10 However, when the advanced maxilla undergoes excessive clockwise rotation and is shifted more downward vertically than the planned position, it might be impossible to pull it back into the planned position. To resolve this problem, we invented devices that can be attached to HFDS and control the vertical vector of distraction. The purpose of this article is to describe the result of application of the distraction system for syndromic craniosynostosis.