title: Serial observation of asymmetry in the growing face.
abstract: Three children suffering from facial asymmetry were observed annually using facial stereophotogrammetry before, during, and after their general skeletal adolescent growth spurt. Stereophotogrammetry allows accurate three-dimensional measurements between identifiable facial landmarks. Five pairs of bilateral parameters connecting external canthi and angles of the mouth to alae and tip of nose, and to each other, allowed a positive sign (right-side larger) or a negative (left-side larger) assessment of parameter asymmetry. Their total, taking sign into account, assessed mid-facial asymmetry. Serial observation showed that: (1) in patient no. 1 suffering from post-traumatic condylar hypoplasia, the facial asymmetry resolved; (2) in patient no. 2 suffering from unilateral facial hypoplasia, the asymmetry, which was severe, reduced with adolescence, but did not resolve; (3) in patient no. 3 suffering from fibro-osseous dysplasia of left maxilla, the asymmetry was reduced by surgery, but the full effects of the surgery were not measurable until over 1 year after operation; subsequently, the asymmetry began to increase again.
authors: Department of Child Dental Health, School of Clinical Dentistry, Sheffield.
authors: P H
authors: PH
authors: Burke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000293:injuries; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D009055:Mouth / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D009666:Nose / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D010780:Photogrammetry