title: Comparison of mandibular vertical growth in hemifacial microsomia patients treated with early distraction or not treated: follow up till the completion of growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of the long-term follow-up until the completion of growth of two homogeneous samples of children affected by hemifacial microsomia (HFM), one treated by mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO) in the deciduous or early mixed dentition, the other not subjected to any treatment until adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients affected by vertically severe type I or II HFM were operated at an average age of 5.9 years with an average follow-up of 11.2 years. They were compared to a sample of eight patients who were never treated until the completion of growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mandibular vertical changes were measured on panoramic radiographs taken at different time points. Ratios between affected and non affected ramal heights were calculated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the DO sample, after correction, mandibular vertical changes showed a gradual return of the asymmetry with growth in all patients. The ratio in the non treated sample was unchanged between the initial and the long term panoramic x-rays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The facial proportions of HFM patients are maintained, when not treated, throughout growth. The same proportions return to their original asymmetry after DO. Even though short term aesthetic and psychological advantages of distraction osteogenesis are well accepted, early surgery should only be applied after careful patient selection and honest clarification of the long term recurrence by genetically guided craniofacial growth pattern.
authors: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, via Pergolesi 33, Monza, Italy. cmeazzini@yahoo.it
authors: Maria Costanza
authors: MC
authors: Meazzini
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Mazzoleni
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Bozzetti
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Brusati
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome