Craniofacial changes in unilateral microtia: I. An anthropometric study

Anthropological studies were carried out in 100 adult males with microtia. Craniofacial changes were assessed in 45 selected males ranging in age from 20 to 42 years and affected by right-sided microtia of the third degree. The results showed the extent of facial involvement in unilateral severe microtia, as well as the type of the changes. They were expressed quantitatively in terms of metrical values. The defect was a typically lateral anomaly with decreased height-depth dimensions of the affected side of the face, while the facial width dimensions and the height dimensions in the median plane were unchanged. The hemihypoplasia was most marked in the distal part of the face and increased towards the otocephalic center. The dimensions of the reconstructed earlobe corresponded on the average to the contralateral lobe, though there were some individual differences and the lobe was inclined anteriorly. Anomalies of the normal earlobe occurred in 27% of individuals examined, and consisted most frequently of lobe protrusion (16%). Associated anomalies of cervical vertebrae were recorded in 13% and a familial occurrence of microtia in 4%. The body growth was not affected in our patients.