Hemifacial Microsomia: Clinical Features and Associated Anomalies

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is the second most common congenital anomaly of the face after cleft lip and palate. There is a considerable variability in the extent and severity of affection of the bones and soft tissues of the face arising from these two arches. Different classification systems have been described for HFM with the mandible and/or the ear defects being key features needed for any classification system. Nowadays, the most widely used system is the orbital, mandibular, ear, facal nerve, soft tissue (OMENS) classification, later modified to the OMENS+ to include extracraniofacial manifestations.The aim of this study was to review the demographic characteristics and clinical findings of a group of Egyptian patients with HFM and to correlate the findings with data retrieved from the literature.Thirty-nine patients were identified and included in this study. Right side was predominantly affected in 19 patients (48.7%), 9 patients (23%) had left side affection (23%) and 11 patients (28.3%) had bilateral affection, with overall male-to-female ratio of 1:1.4. The majority of patients had a normal orbit (64%), mildly hypoplastic mandible with functioning temporomandibular joint (58% with type M1 or M2a), normal facial nerve (82%), and minimal to mild soft-tissue hypoplasia (52%). Significant ear deformity affected the bigger percentage of the patients (E3: 44%, E2: 14%)The data demonstrate the phenotypic variability of HFM and suggest a degree of relationship among the components of HFM. Some epidemiological aspects and clinical findings in our study did not always parallel those reported in western literatures. Small sample size is the main limitation of the study. Further, and if possible multi-center, studies are recommended.