**Abstract**

Distraction osteogenesis is a surgical technique widely used in orthopedic surgery for treatment of various pathological skeletal conditions, namely correction of limb-length discrepancies, angular deformity and treatment of distal and severely comminuted fractures, or bone defects through bone transport. The basic principle consists on the gradual distraction of two bone segments, previously submitted to a corticotomy and promptly fixated generally using of circular external skeletal fixation. New bone tissue is generated in the bone gap between the two segments. This review aims to describe the biological fundaments and principles of this technique, the surgical steps performed to attempt distraction osteogenesis, and its possible complications with main focus on its application in companion animals.

**Keywords:** distraction osteogenesis, principles, bone regeneration, companion animals
