Growth in hemifacial microsomia studied with the aid of roentgen stereophotogrammetry and metallic implants

Displacement of the mandible and of the maxillary bones with growth was studied in 11 children with hemifacial microsomia. The subjects were from three to 14 years of age at the initial examination and were observed over a period of 350 to 1218 days. Roentgen stereophotogrammetry with the aid of metallic implants proved to be an efficient method for highly accurate recordings of growth relative to the frontal bone. Complicated movements of the jaws occurred and either increased or decreased the degree of facial asymmetry. No correlation could be found between the extent of the mandibular deformity as seen on orthopantomograms and the displacement of the mandible with growth. Generally, the displacement of the maxillary bones corresponded with the displacement of the mandible.