It is threaded but not ratcheted and therefore can unscrew, losing ground.
He will be obtaining followup radiographs to check the distraction every 2-3 weeks on patients and would like an AP like the image attached as well as bilateral obliques with the interested side flat against the cassette to minimize magnification and obtain a reproducible measurement. The obliques may need a little cephalic angulation to prevent superimposition of the hardware. He is interested in the distance between the two plates. Their inner margins mark the edges of the osteotomy.
Attached is a sample Powerscribe macro if you like.
[] []
Clinical History: [<Pierre Robin syndrome, micrognathia, mandible distractors>]
Findings: Status post bilateral mandibular distraction. [<An enteric tube is present.>] [<There is no evidence of breakage of the hardware or loosening of the screws.>]
Distraction
Left: [] mm
Right: [] mm.
Impression: [<There is no evidence of loosening or breakage of the hardware.>]
Code [<20>]
Clinical History: [<Pierre Robin syndrome, micrognathia, mandible distractors>]
Findings: Status post bilateral mandibular distraction. [<An enteric tube is present.>] [<There is no evidence of breakage of the hardware or loosening of the screws.>]
Distraction
Left: [] mm
Right: [] mm.
Impression: [<There is no evidence of loosening or breakage of the hardware.>]
Code [<20>]
Thanks to Bill Andolsek, DO
