Available online 19 July 2022

This study aimed to investigate the potential progressiveness of mandibular asymmetry and to study factors that influence chin point deviation in patients with unilateral craniofacial microsomia (CFM).

Paediatric patients with unilateral CFM with available radiologic imaging and medical photographs were included. Chin point deviation was measured on clinical photographs. A Jonckheere-Terpstra test and linear mixed model for repeated measurements assessed the relation of chin point deviation on natural growth, Pruzansky−Kaban score, and soft tissue score.

A total of 110 patients were included. The linear mixed model showed no statistically significant changes of chin point deviation during growth (effect estimate −0.006°, 95% CI –0.04° to −0.03°, p = 0.74). A statistical significant relation between both the Pruzansky-Kaban and soft tissue score on chin point deviation was found (effect estimate −5.10°, 95% CI –6.45° to −3.75°, p ≤ 0.001 and effect estimate −3.42°, CI –5.86° to −0.98°, p ≤ 0.001, respectively).

It can be concluded that the Pruzansky−Kaban and soft tissue score are strongly associated with chin point deviation in patients with unilateral CFM, although the variation among patients is considerable. Chin point deviation does not change during growth, which might suggest that CFM is a non-progressive disorder.

Craniofacial microsomia

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral syndrome

Hemifacial microsomia

Goldenhar syndrome

Chin point deviation

Growth

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.