Le Fort III rigid external distraction complicated by intracranial movement of halo fixation pins

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2008 May;45(3):332-6. doi: 10.1597/07-021.1. Epub 2007 Jul 12.

Abstract

Midface hypoplasia in a 5-year-old boy with Crouzon syndrome was treated using a rigid external distraction device. Seven months prior to this surgery, a bone allograft was used during frontal-orbital bar advancement. Three weeks after the Le Fort III distraction a depression fracture was diagnosed, associated with an intracerebral screw penetration of 3.5 cm. This case report cautions against the use of distraction osteogenesis in patients when previous allografts were used for calvarial reconstruction. We suggest that a preoperative computed tomography scan is mandatory to accurately delineate the location for placement of the pins.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Nails / adverse effects*
  • Bone Transplantation / instrumentation*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Craniofacial Dysostosis / surgery*
  • Craniotomy
  • Foreign-Body Migration
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteogenesis, Distraction / instrumentation*
  • Osteotomy, Le Fort / methods*
  • Skull Fractures / surgery