Mandibular distraction osteogenesis reconstructed the upper airway in a case of Melnick-Needles syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: We report a 16-year-old female with Melnick-Needles syndrome complicated with severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypoxia syndrome. CLINICAL REPORT: An overnight sleep study demonstrated that the patient had severe obstructive sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index of 95/h. The lowest oxygen saturation was only 34%. The distraction osteogenesis technique was used to lengthen her mandible for the reconstruction of her upper airway. RESULT AND DISCUSSION: Postoperative panorex showed that the bilateral body of her mandible had been distracted about 16 mm singulorumly in the end of our distraction. Lateral radiograph revealed that the diameter of oral pharynx widen nearly 5 mm. The patient recovered after the upper airway reconstruction.