Objective: To approach the treatment of severe micrognathia accompanying obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) with rigid external distractor (RED) in children.
Methods: Six cases patients (4 males, 2 females) aged between 1.5 and 14 years, were diagnosed as ankylosis of temporomandibular joint severe micrognathia, and OSAHS. Under the nasal intubation and general anesthesia, the surgical procedures were performed by submandibular approach and osteotomy was done in mandible body. Mini plate was fixed and connected to RED. The distraction procedure was carried out
Results: Patients' profile, posterior airway space, and the results of polysomnography were improved significantly. There were no complications. Four months after removing the RED, the new bone was well formed.
Conclusions: RED technique has advantages of uncomplicated procedures, high quality of new bone formation, and accurate regulation in the treatment of micrognathia. It is especially suitable for the treatment of children with severe micrognathia whose mandibular body is too small to insert the internal distractor.