The role of curvilinear distraction system in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: A case report.

OBJECTIVE: The authors present a case of obstructive sleep apnea associated with severe mandibular micrognathia treated by mandibular bone distraction with curvilinear system planned under computer assistance.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 15-year-old child with limited compliance to continuous positive airway therapy was referred to the authors' department. Observation revealed severe mandibular micrognathia as the major cause for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The first polysomnography study revealed 14 obstructive apneas, 16 obstructive hypopneas, and 4.6/h apnea-hypopnea index.

CONCLUSION: Mandibular distraction osteogenesis can be a successful technique in alleviating upper airway obstruction secondary to micrognathia, while also improving the patient's appearance. Surgical planning under computer assistance is a useful tool to predict bone movements, and curvilinear distraction could be considered valuable in mandibular distraction.