RESUMO
To study the influence of distraction osteogenesis (DO) on the maxillary growth as first-stage treatment of palatal defect. The uniform palate defect experimental animal models (21 miniature pigs) were established surgically. Then animals were randomly divided into negative control group (A, nâ=â6), conventional surgery group (B, nâ=â6), and distraction osteogenesis group (C, nâ=â9) respectively. The group A underwent none treatment as control group, the group B were undergoing a conventional defect repair surgery, and the group C were undergoing a distraction osteogenesis treatment. Cone beam computed tomography examination was performed monthly to analyze the growth of maxilla for 6 months. One pig of group C was randomly sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the completion of DO and the tissue of distraction gap was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining. At the end of 6th months, all pigs were sacrificed and tissues of the surgical area were stained as previous described. The palate defect was repaired by the distraction osteogenesis with the successful bone formation on the distraction gap. Group A and group C kept a similar growth rate, but that of group B was relatively slow. Distraction osteogenesis is efficient and successful for closing the defect of palate and there is no significant disturbance on the subsequent growth of the maxilla.