title: Use of orthopedic finger distractor for facial asymmetry correction.
abstract: Facial asymmetry after unilateral ankylosis results due to the loss of the condylar growth center on the ankylosed side. This results in the skeletal midline deviating to the affected side, a lack of vertical growth on the same side produces a cant of the occlusal plane and mandibular retrognathism is seen as a result of the hypoplasia. The lower border of the mandibular corpus and angle on the contra lateral side is usually flattened. We report a case of facial asymmetry following unilateral ankylosis, which was treated by a combined approach with distraction osteogenesis and orthodontics. Inexpensive orthopedic finger distractors were used. The facial changes were analyzed using the Grummons facial asymmetry analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. ajoyroy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ajoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roychoudhury
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D000844:Ankylosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation*