Maxillary-driven simultaneous maxillo-mandibular distraction for hemifacial microsomia

Assessment and Identification of Improvement Areas for Facial Symmetry in Hemifacial Microsomia (Type IIB) Using Three-dimensional Measurements

Background

Surgical planning for hemifacial microsomia (HFM) patients often involves planning the amount of maxillary movement and mandibular bone distraction from three-dimensional (3D) volumetric images constructed from computed tomography scans. By representing anatomical indicators for facial symmetry in X, Y, and Z coordinates, we identified the more challenging areas in correcting facial asymmetry.

Methods

The study included five HFM patients with a mean age of 22.2 years, all diagnosed with HFM (type IIB). We established measurement points with high reproducible 3D coordinates on the 3D volumetric images obtained from computed tomography scans for before surgery, treatment objectives, and after surgery. We assessed the symmetry of measurement points between the affected side and nonaffected side at each time point.

Results

In the before-surgery group, significant differences were observed between the affected side and nonaffected side in X,Y (excluding Palatine foramen, upper molar, canine) and Z coordinates for measurement items. In the treatment objectives group, no differences were observed between the affected side and nonaffected side in X, Y, and Z coordinates, resulting in facial symmetry. In the after-surgery group, significant differences were observed in Y coordinates in the mental foramen area, and significant differences were observed in z axis measurement items in the canine and mental foramen areas.

Conclusions

It is evident that relying solely on a front view assessment is insufficient to achieve facial symmetry. Particularly, both anterior-posterior and vertical improvements in the area near the mental foramen on the affected side are necessary.

Treatment of Facial Asymmetry Using Distraction Osteogenesis in a Mandible First Approach

Background

Facial asymmetry includes several etiologies, among them trauma to the condylar area during early childhood and congenital malformations such as hemifacial microsomia. This article describes the management of facial asymmetry in adolescents and young adults using a mandible first approach by distraction osteogenesis, followed by maxillary Le-Fort I as a second stage.

Methods

Eighteen patients 14-25 years of age presented with unilateral hypoplasia of the jaws which manifested clinically by deviation of the chin and canting of the occlusal plane. Etiology included hemifacial microsomia and trauma injuries at early childhood.All patients underwent orthodontic treatment and two phases of surgical treatment. Surgical treatment included unilateral mandibular distraction followed by Le-Fort I osteotomy for alignment of the maxilla. Additional bone graft in the affected side and sliding genioplasty were done as required.

Results

Marked ramal elongation of 18.94 mm concomitant with mandibular forward traction of 12.5 mm was noted while achieving symmetry. In all cases, the maxilla was centered to the midline in proper occlusion. Post distraction, posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs demonstrated elongation of the affected ramus, improvement in facial symmetry, and correction of the occlusal canting. Relapse was minimal based on long-term follow-ups of 47.4 months.

Conclusions

The two-stage surgical approach that includes elongation of the mandible as a first stage followed by adaptation of the maxilla is useful in correcting facial asymmetry. Using this protocol at the correct age (14-18) is very stable, as demonstrated by our results, yet one should always remember the transverse deficiency in the gonial angle requires additional bone grafting or patient specific implants.

Dynamic orthognathic surgical procedure (DOSP) in asymmetric maxillomandibular dysmorphism secondary to unilateral micrognathia: Outcomes of 12 consecutive cases

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes following a dynamic orthognathic surgical procedure performed at the end of growth to treat asymmetric maxillomandibular deformities linked to unilateral micrognathia when conventional orthognathic surgery was not feasible. The dynamic orthognathic surgical procedure (DOSP) combined concomitant mandibular distraction osteogenesis with contralateral poorly stabilized sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort I osteotomy. Cephalometric studies were retrospectively conducted on pre- and postoperative lateral and frontal cephalographs, and maxillomandibular movements were calculated. Outcome scores were computed by both experts and laypersons based on photographic analyses. There was a significant postoperative increase in height of the micrognathic ramus in all patients (n = 12; p = 0.002). The angle between the occlusal cant and horizontal reference plane decreased significantly in all of the patients, as did the angle between the midline sagittal plane and mandibular tilt (p < 0.001). Postoperative outcome scores showed significant improvements in all cases, according to both expert and layperson groups. This procedure allows correction of maxillomandibular asymmetries linked to micrognathia. However, it cannot resolve all the factors participating in facial asymmetry, such as those originating in the oculo-auriculo-ventricular spectrum or complex tumor sequelae, and second-step procedures may be required.

Quantitative Evaluation of Cephalometric Radiographs of Patients With Hemifacial Microsomia

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the morphological characteristics of hemifacial microsomia (HFM) by quantitative analysis of cephalometric radiographs.

DESIGN

Retrospective study of imaging data.

SETTING

Imaging data were obtained from the records of Sapporo Medical University Hospital.

PATIENTS

A total of 183 patients with HFM.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We used linear and angular measurements and analyzed the middle face and lower face.

RESULTS

The ratios of the affected side to the unaffected (A/U) side of the lateral distance of the mandibular condyle, the mandibular ramus height, and the length of the body of the mandible in the HFM group were significantly lower than in the control group. The inclination of the body of the mandible was significantly larger in the side with HFM than in the unaffected side, and the extent of the mandibular ramus was significantly lower than in the unaffected side. The A/U ratios of the extent of the angle of the mandible and the inclination of the body of the mandible in the HFM group were larger than in the control group. Moreover, the length and the inclination of the body of the mandible had significant correlations with the distance of the shift of the menton.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that improving the hypoplasia of the length of the body of the mandible and the extent of the angle of the mandible on the affected side will lead to more effective treatment of jaw deformity in patients with HFM.

The use of mandibular body distraction in hemifacial microsomia

Objective:

The goals of treatment for hemifacial microsomia include horizontalization of occlusal plane and acquisition of facial symmetry. Although horizontalization of occlusal plane can be easily achieved, facial symmetry, particularly in relation to mandibular contour, can be difficult to attain. Soft tissue is generally reconstructed to correct facial asymmetry, and no studies have described correction of facial asymmetry through skeletal reconstruction.

Case:

A 12-year-old girl presented with grade IIb right-sided hemifacial microsomia. She was treated using Nakajima's angle-variable internal distraction (NAVID) system for mandibular body distraction.

Results:

Following treatment, appropriate facial symmetry was achieved, and the patient was extremely satisfied with the results.

Conclusions:

Thus, we successfully treated the present patient by our novel method involving distraction osteogenesis. This method was effective and useful for several reasons including; the changes were not accompanied by postoperative tissue absorption, donor sites were not involved, and the treatment outcome could be reevaluated by adjusting distraction while the patient's appearance was being remodeled.

Role of Solid Model Simulation Surgery for Hemifacial Microsomia

Distraction osteogenesis is now a standard procedure for hemifacial microsomia, and various methods have been described. However, it is sometimes difficult to obtain the horizontal occlusal plane and facial symmetry. This brief communication describes and discusses the usefulness of solid model simulation surgery for hemifacial microsomia.