Distraction Osteogenesis in patients with cleft lip and palate: current update

The incidence of cleft lip and palate is very high among developed and developing nations. Craniofacial growth is affected with this deformity resulting in hypoplasia and asymmetry of the facial region, specifically the maxilla. Traditionally, orthognathic surgeries were performed in order to correct the deformity. The unsatisfactory outcome from orthognathic surgeries led to employ new approaches to correct the maxillary deformity. Distraction osteogenesis was introduced as a novel way to achieve acceptable results and patient oriented outcomes. The aim of this review is to discuss the current update and outcome of distraction osteogenesis in correcting facial deformity.