Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Distraction osteogenesis has become increasingly popular for the treatment of craniofacial anomalies involving the midface and mandible.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of distraction rate and frequencies on distraction osteogenesis.
METHODS: The first author retrieved CNKI database from 1989 to 2009 in Chinese and Medline database from 1989 to 2009 in English with the key words of “distraction osteogenesis, distraction rate, distraction frequencies”. A total of 58 articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 25 articles concerning the effect of distraction rate and frequencies on distraction osteogenesis were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Distraction rate and frequencies affected outcomes of distraction osteogenesis. The small distraction rate can not stimulate new bone formation, while the great distraction rate may lead to inogenesis rather than new bone formation, even worse, may lead to bone union. Under a certain distraction rate, increasing of distraction frequency may promote osteogenesis. Distraction with high rate or continuous traction is effective in promoting osteogenesis. The distraction frequencies of 2-4 times with 1 mm per day proved to be biomechanically superior.