OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate sequential changes in soft tissue thickness after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) in skeletal class III patients with facial asymmetry and to explore their correlation with surgical movements for optimal postoperative facial symmetry and esthetic outcomes.
METHODS: This study included 37 patients with class III malocclusion and > 4 mm Menton (Me) deviation who underwent BSSRO. Posteroanterior cephalograms were captured at preoperative (T0), 6 weeks (T1), 6 months (T2), and 1 year (T3) postoperative intervals to analyze changes in Me deviation, fronto-ramal inclination (FRI), and soft tissue thickness. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the changes in soft tissue thickness over time and the effects of surgical correction.
RESULTS: Significant improvements in facial asymmetry were noted after surgery, with reductions in Me deviation and FRI on both the deviated side (DS) and non-deviated side (NDS). An increase in soft tissue thickness was observed on both the DS and NDS after surgery, with the NDS showing a continued increase between 6 months and 1 year, indicating an ongoing compensation for symmetry restoration. The study also identified a positive correlation between the surgical movement of the FRI and the increase in soft tissue width on the NDS after 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: This study established that soft tissue thickness continues to adapt and change up to 1 year after BSSRO, underscoring the need for a long-term evaluative approach in orthognathic surgery for patients with facial asymmetry.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed (1) to evaluate the site and severity of facial asymmetry in Class III patients before and after bimaxillary surgery, and (2) to identify the influence of initial severity and positional jaw asymmetry on residual facial asymmetry.
METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography of 65 patients with Class III facial asymmetry who underwent bimaxillary surgery were evaluated. Five midline and 14 paramedian facial soft tissue landmarks were identified to assess facial asymmetry. The outcomes were compared to a control group consisting of 30 age- and gender-matched Class I subjects. The postoperative positional jaw asymmetry (i.e., shift, roll, yaw) of each osteotomy segment (maxilla, mandible, chin, ramus) was also measured.
RESULTS: Before surgery, the asymmetry was more severe at the chin, middle and lower contour. Bimaxillary surgery effectively corrected facial asymmetry, particularly in achieving normalization of chin deviation. However, significant asymmetry persisted postoperatively in the middle and lower contour (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), which was affected by the positional ramus asymmetry in the roll and shift.
CONCLUSIONS: Deviation of the chin, middle and lower contour contributed significantly to overall facial asymmetry in Class III asymmetry. Despite normalization of the chin deviation after bimaxillary surgery, asymmetry persisted at the middle and lower contour, primarily as the result of insufficient correction of the positional ramus asymmetry.
CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the residual asymmetry after bimaxillary surgery is important for minimizing deviation and optimizing the surgical planning for its correction.

BACKGROUND: Condylar hyperplasia is a non-neoplastic overgrowth of the mandibular condyle. The disorder is progressive and causes gradual jaw deviation, facial asymmetry, and dental malocclusion. The only treatment capable of stopping hyperplastic growth is surgical condylectomy to remove the upper portion of the condyle containing the deranged growth center. When this procedure is conducted in proportion to the length of the healthy side it may also correct the jaw deviation and facial asymmetry.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree to which condylectomy corrects the asymmetry and to determine the proportion of patients after condylectomy who were satisfied with the esthetic result and did not desire further corrective surgery.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients who underwent condylectomy that was not followed by corrective orthognathic surgery for at least 1 year to determine the degree of correction of chin deviation and lip cant. Patient satisfaction from treatment or desire and undergo further corrective surgery was reported.
RESULTS: Chin deviation decreased after condylectomy from a mean of 4.8⁰ to a mean of 1.8⁰ (P < 0.001). Lip cant decreased after condylectomy from a mean of 3.5⁰ to a mean of 1.5⁰ (P < 0.001). Most patients (72%) were satisfied with the results and did not consider further corrective orthognathic surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Proportional condylectomy could be a viable treatment to both arrest the condylar overgrowth and achieve some correction of the facial asymmetry.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of surgical therapy, intraoperative evaluation, and immediate physiotherapy on the facial asymmetry of patients with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). Patients who underwent a combination of unipolar sternocleidomastoid muscle release with perioperative physiotherapy between 2014 and 2020 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen were enrolled. Three-dimensional photographs of the face acquired 2 months preoperatively and 1.5-2 years postoperatively were assessed. Based on 43 patients, there was a significant improvement in the asymmetry indices (angles between bilateral exocanthion, bilateral cheilion, and nasion-gnathion lines): mean ± standard deviation reductions in indices (Ex-Ex)-(Ch-Ch), (Ex-Ex)-(Na-Gn), and (Ch-Ch)-(Na-Gn) of 0.88 ± 1.08° (P < 0.001), 1.04 ± 1.26° (P < 0.001), and 0.21 ± 1.06° (P = 0.024), respectively. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that intervention at an early age (P = 0.017) and left-sided torticollis (P = 0.030) were associated with a significantly greater improvement in the facial asymmetry. This study found that the use of combined surgery and physiotherapy reduced the facial asymmetry of patients with CMT at 2 years postoperatively. Early intervention and left-sided torticollis were associated with a greater improvement in the facial asymmetry. This indicates that attention should be given to early intervention and right-sided CMT cases postoperatively.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with a cleft require structured procedures to achieve feasible treatment results. Since many treatment protocols coexist without being superior to one another, this study investigated the Saarland University Hospital treatment concept for patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts to evaluate its effects upon dental arch dimensions until the early mixed dentition.
METHODS: Digitized plaster models were used for data collection. Records of 83 patients (Cleft n = 41 [UCLP n = 28, BCLP n = 13], Non-Cleft Control n = 42) comprised 249 casts. The evaluation included established procedures for measurements of edentulous and dentate jaws. Statistics included Shapiro-Wilk, Friedmann, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney-U-Tests for the casts. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS: The cast analysis showed an approximation of arch dimensions towards those of age-matched patients without a cleft until early mixed dentition. The mean values of patients with and without cleft lip and palate were almost indistinguishable when compared in primary and/or early mixed dentition.
CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated treatment concept leads to feasible outcomes regarding dental arches in patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts compared to an age-matched non-cleft control.
CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated treatment concept leads to favorable outcomes until early mixed dentition.

At present, stock linear distractors are used for internal maxillary distraction osteogenesis. However, the authors\' research group has demonstrated, through an in silico analysis, that linear distraction leads to bone deformities and malocclusion, whereas helical distraction can yield ideal outcomes. A system for designing and manufacturing custom helical distractors has recently been developed, and the feasibility of these appliances now needs to be assessed. This study was, therefore, conducted to gain an initial insight into their feasibility. The study had two goals. First, it aimed to demonstrate, in an in vitro model, that the novel system of custom helical distraction can produce appropriate clinical outcomes. The second aim was to compare the performance of custom helical distractors with that of stock devices and hybrid devices (i.e., linear appliances that feature patient-specific footplates). Interpreting the results as trends, this study showed that the system of custom helical distraction resulted in in vitro outcomes that were superior to those obtained with stock and hybrid devices.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) encompass pain and dysfunction in the jaw, muscles, and adjacent structures. This study aimed to explore the quantitative (condylar position, morphology) and qualitative (bone mineral density (BMD)) therapeutic outcomes following a stabilization splint (S.S.) therapy in adult patients diagnosed with TMD (Arthralgia) with/without lateral mandibular asymmetry (MA) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
METHODS: In this retrospective clinical study, 60 adult TMD patients who received S.S. therapy were enrolled and allocated into the TMD group (TMDG) and TMD with MA group (TMD + MAG). The diagnosis was made according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) AXIS I. MA was measured from the mid-sagittal plane to the Menton point. CBCT was used to scan the temporomandibular joints pre- (T0) and post- (T1)-treatment for three-dimensional analysis. Intra- and intergroup statistical comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed ranks and the Kruskal‒Wallis test.
RESULTS: For quantitative comparisons, there was a statistically significant difference between T0 and T1 in the joint spaces of TMD + MAG (anterior, superior, posterior, and coronal lateral on the deviated side as well as in the superior, coronal medial joint space of the contralateral side). Morphologically, the deviated side had a narrower condylar width, reduced condylar height, and a steeper eminence angle. In contrast, the contralateral side tended to have a greater condylar length. For qualitative measurements, BMD also showed statistical significance between T0 and T1 in the majority of the condyle slopes (AS, SS, PS, and LS on the deviated side and in AS and MS on the contralateral side) of TMD + MAG. Additionally, only the AS and PS showed significance in TMDG.
CONCLUSIONS: Multiple joint space widening (AJS and CMS) and narrowing (SJS, PJS, and CLS) could characterize the deviated side in TMD + MA. Factors like narrower condylar width, reduced condylar height, and steeper eminence angle on the deviated side can worsen TMD + MA. Proper alignment of the condyle-disc position is essential for optimal function and load distribution, potentially affecting bone mineral density (BMD). MA plays a prominent role in disturbing bone densities. S.S. therapy shows more evident outcomes in TMD + MAG (on the deviated side compared to the contralateral side) than the TMDG.

BACKGROUND: Facial nerve palsy is a condition of nerve damage that results in impaired facial movement on one or both sides of the face.
OBJECTIVE: This multicenter study aimed to determine the prevalence of facial nerve palsy and evaluate the association between its risk factors and complications to identify its etiology among patients admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2023.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to obtain data from medical records using the best care system for patients with facial nerve palsy. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (Released 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), Chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS:  The study involved 123 patients, with 0.0164% prevalence. Bell\'s palsy was the most common etiology, accounting for 81.8% of cases, followed by head injuries, dental trauma, otitis media, stroke, and head and neck tumors. Obesity was the most significant risk factor, followed by upper respiratory problems. Hypertension and diabetes exert similar effects. Facial asymmetry, ophthalmic complications, and eye twitching were the most common complaints followed by speech difficulties, psychological and social effects, mouth twitching, and synkinesis.
CONCLUSIONS:  Facial nerve palsy is common in this region. We recommend health education sessions to increase public awareness and provide preventive strategies to reduce the complications of facial nerve damage. We recommend further research on the association between the risk factors and complications of facial nerve palsy.

This study compares condylar volumetric asymmetry and facial asymmetry in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) and controls. The mandibular condyle is important to facial growth, but its role in facial asymmetry for those with CLP has not been described. Condylar volumes and mandibular asymmetry were retrospectively calculated using Mimics Version 23.0 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) from patients with CLP undergoing computed tomography (CT) imaging and a cohort of controls. A total of 101 participants, 60 with CLP and 41 controls, had mean condylar volumetric asymmetry of 16.4 ± 17.4 % (CLP) and 6.0 ± 4.0 % (controls) (p = 0.0002). Patients with CLP who had clinically significant chin deviation (>4 mm) had more asymmetric condyles than those without significant chin deviation (p = 0.003). The chin deviated toward the smaller condyle in patients with facial asymmetry more often than in patients without facial asymmetry (81 % vs. 62 %, p = 0.033). While controls had some degree of condylar asymmetry, it tended to be milder and not associated with facial asymmetry. There is a greater degree of condylar volumetric asymmetry in patients with CLP compared to individuals in the general population. Clinically significant facial asymmetry in CLP is associated with a higher degree of condylar asymmetry, with the facial midline deviating toward the smaller condyle.

Introduction Facial asymmetry influences aesthetics and can involve either hard or soft tissues or both. Underlying skeletal asymmetry can be compensated by differential expression of soft tissue thickness on either side. Orthognathic surgical planning needs to take the interaction between the hard and soft tissues into account. The aim of this study was to assess the bilateral thickness of hard tissues and the corresponding facial soft tissue in asymmetric subjects to assess the compensation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Materials and methods CBCT measurements of 30 skeletal Class l asymmetric untreated patients with menton deviation greater than 4 mm were included in the study. The side towards which the menton deviated was considered as the deviated side and taken as the control group (GC). The contralateral side of the menton deviation was considered as the non-deviated side and was taken as the test group (GT). The greatest width of both hard and soft tissues was measured at the head of the condyle; the centre of the ramal upper, middle, and lower thirds; furcation of the first molar; and apices of the first premolar and canine. Each landmark was precisely positioned on all three planes and the measurements were correlated. An independent t-test compared the difference of both hard and soft tissues between deviated and non-deviated sides. The correlation between the hard and soft tissues of both non-deviated and deviated sides was performed using the Pearson correlation two-tailed test. Results In the condylar and mid ramal regions, significant differences between the hard and soft tissues were noted in the GT (p < 0.05). In the non-deviated side, at the condylar region, it was noted that with an increase in hard tissue thickness, there was a decrease in soft tissue thickness, while in mid and lower ramal regions, it was noted that with a decrease in hard tissue thickness, there was an increase in soft tissue thickness. No significant difference was seen in the tooth-bearing section of the mandible (p > 0.05). Pearson\'s correlation showed a highly significant negative correlation between the hard and soft tissues of the GT at the level of the condyle and the ramus (p < 0.05). Non-significant correlation was seen between the hard and soft tissues at the molar, premolar and canine areas of the GT. No significant correlation between the hard and soft tissues was seen at any level in the GC (p > 0.05). Conclusion In the non-deviated side, the non-tooth-bearing segment of the mandible (condyle and ramus) showed differences between the hard and soft tissue thicknesses. With an increase in the hard tissue thickness, there was a corresponding decrease in the soft tissue thickness and vice versa which is attributed as compensation. The tooth-bearing segment of the non-deviated side did not show compensation. There is no compensation seen on the deviated side in both segments.