Mid-Term Outcome of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis in Pierre Robin Sequence

The aim of the present study was to present a single center's experience with mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) in Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) patients. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with PRS that underwent MDO at our institution from 2003 to 2012. Inclusion criteria were as follows:1)All pediatric patients with PRS who were not adequately managed with conservative therapy;2)Those who underwent MDO with internal mandibular distractors;3)Not previous treatment elsewhere and4)Patients were followed for ≥3 years.Evaluation included demographic information, postoperative complications, and surgical outcomes. Twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. No complications related to our distraction technique were reported. Most of the patients who had a tracheostomy were successfully decannulated and the rest were able to avoid a tracheostomy. Two patients had superficial infections that were treated conservatively with topical antibiotics. One patient, who was our first case in the series, required 3 episodes of distraction osteogenesis. Another patient demonstrated recurrent symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea after MDO and was treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Over-correction during MDO in PRS is an efficient method for preventing future airway problems. Patients who required a tracheotomy pre-distraction and cases in whom distraction was performed at older age (>2 months of age), had a lower success rate in achieving de-cannulation and a higher rate of complications. Laryngomalacia, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, cardiac, and GI anomalies are not associated with increased failure rates of MDO in PRS.