Anthropometry of the face in lateral facial dysplasia: the unilateral form

The skull, face and ears of 46 patients with the unilateral form of lateral facial dysplasia were examined at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, using anthropometric methods for the purpose of contributing to the morphology of this syndrome. The classical picture of unilateral facial asymmetry with microtia was found in 13 cases (28.3%). The study showed bilaterally defective mandibular arc measurements in 28 per cent of the cases. The facial damage was associated in 15 per cent with ears normal in size but defective in location, level, and shape. The anthropometric examination revealed a great variety of defects on both sides of the face, often barely detectable by routine inspection. It was also found that great deficiencies in the surface measurements were accompanied by great bone deficiencies.