[Maxillofacial surgery and distraction osteogenesis--history, present, perspective].

The distraction osteogenesis is processes of planning and controlled tension over a bone after osteotomy or corticotomy. The purpose is lengthening on the base of forming a new bone tissue with normal biological characteristics. It presents historical development. The distraction osteogenesis adapts to the needs of oral maxillo-facial surgery in last ten years. The first step was a lengthening of the lower jaw with extraoral apparatus (McCarthy 1992). The surgical techniques and the principals of G. Ilizarov are shown in the overview. It describes the biological aspects of the distraction osteogenesis--the phenomena tension--stress, as such as the effect not only over the bone but over the surrounding soft tissues, blood vessels and nerves. It presents the distraction osteogenesis used in maxillo-facial surgery--mandibular distraction, distraction of alveolar bone, of mid-third face, cranio-orbito-maxillar distraction osteogenesis. Because of easy surgical technique, clinically proved by stable functional and aesthetic results, the distraction osteogenesis has perspectives in future time.