title: Mandibular widening in hemifacial microsomia: a roentgen stereometric study of 11 patients with the aid of metallic implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to study mandibular widening in untreated subjects with hemifacial microsomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the 3-dimensional files at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skane University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden, data of 11 subjects (3 girls, 8 boys) with hemifacial microsomia were retrieved. Their age range was 9 years 2 months to 13 years 2 months at the first examination. The mean observation period was 5 years 2 months. Each subject was studied by roentgen stereophotogrammetry with the aid of metallic implants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant widening of the mandible was found, with a mean total change of 0.31 mm (range, 0.08-0.79 mm) and a mean annual change of 0.07 mm (range, 0.03-0.12 mm). In 2 subjects, narrowing of the mandible was found: -0.16 and - 0.23 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mandible got wider during adolescence in 9 of our subjects with hemifacial microsomia but to a lesser extent than has been reported in subjects without hemifacial microsomia and from ordinary orthodontic clinics. Sex difference was not addressed. It was suggested that chewing (forces and patterns) was responsible for the mandibular widening in our subjects; this is in line with previous research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karl-Victor
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Sarnäs
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aberg
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D057918:Fiducial Markers; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D008409:Mastication; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D059869:Radiostereometric Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods