Clinical application of injectable calcium sulfate on early bony consolidation in distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of craniofacial microsomia

The purpose of this project was to study the effect of calcium sulfate on early bony consolidation in distraction osteogenesis. A total of eight patients with craniofacial microsomia were treated between April 2000 and February 2001. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 40 years, and all were male. The follow-up period was 1 to 15 months. The operative procedure in adults was based on Ortiz Monasterio's simultaneous mandibular and maxillary distraction technique. In children, osteotomy of the mandible was performed for distraction. On the fifth day after the operation, distraction was performed at a rate of 1 mm/d in three adults. In children, distraction was performed at a rate of 1 mm/d in one patient and 2 mm/d in four patients without a latent period. On the day of completion of distraction, calcium sulfate was implanted into the distracted zone. Radiographs showed bony consolidation at 4 weeks in one child at a rate of 1 mm/d, at 5 to 7 weeks in four children at a rate of 2 mm/d, and at 5 weeks in three adults after implantation of the calcium sulfate. In conclusion, these findings suggest that calcium sulfate is effective for early bony consolidation in distraction osteogenesis and that it would shorten the whole treatment period.