Introduction and objetive:

Facial asymmetries are a frequent esthetic and functional problem.To describe the craniofacial morphologic variability, in patients with facial asymmetry.

Materials and methods:

53 patients (23 men and 30 women) with facial asymmetry were studied using 3D computed axial tomography reconstruction. The long side, exhibiting the asymmetry, and the contralateral side (shorter side presenting mandibular deviation), were compared in frontal and sagittal planes.

Results:

Five kinds of facial asymmetry were identified: Hemimandibular elongation (HE, n = 26; 49%) Hemimandibular hyperplasia (n = 4; 7.5%), asymmetric mandibular prognathism (PMA, n = 14; 25.4%), glenoid fossa asymmetry (n = 2; 3.8%) and functional laterognathism. (n = 7; 13,2%). 64.1% cases had left side mandibular deviation. In the frontal plane the distance from the mid-sagittal plane to malar, yugal and gonion point was higher in the contralateral side (p<0.05). In the sagittal plane mandibular ramus width was higher in the displaced side (p<0.05) and mandibular body length was higher in the contralateral side (p<0.001). Regarding the two most prevalent groups (HE and AMP), the presence of a symphysis deviation > 5.1mm is associated to higher probability of having HE [OR: 4.05, CI 95%: 1.02-16.0].

Conclusion:

Patients with facial asymmetry present craniofacial morphological side differences in the frontal and sagittal planes, useful to identify different entities that cause this alteration.

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