Facial asymmetry in children with either unilateral lambdoid craniosynostosis or positional posterior plagiocephaly.

BACKGROUND

In unilateral lambdoid craniosynostosis (ULC), the posteriorly situated lambdoid suture of the cranial vault fuses prematurely. Positional posterior plagiocephaly (PPP) causes flattening of the posterior side of the head, either through external forces or through underlying differences in brain development. Both conditions cause occipital flattening of the head, but the aetiology is different.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight ULC children were compared with 16 sex- and age-matched PPP children. 3D computer tomography scans of all 24 children were analysed with Dolphin imaging software. The location and symmetry of the temporomandibular joint (Co), and the symmetry of the maxillary anterior nasal spine (ANS) and the mandibular symphysis (Pgn) were analysed. Furthermore, the mandibular bone (Co-Pgn) length, corpus length, ramus height, positional changes in the external acoustic meatus (PoL) and the distance from the orbital margin to the articular fossa were measured.

RESULTS

In all eight ULC children, the Co was anteriorly displaced on the affected side compared with the unaffected side. In all ULC and PPP children, the ANS, which is considered the bony maxillary midpoint, was shifted towards the affected side. In all ULC children, the mandibular bone (Co-Pgn) was shorter on the affected side. The PoL was antero-inferiorly positioned in all ULC children on the affected side compared with the unaffected side.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that both types of posterior plagiocephaly are associated with an asymmetric position of the Co and asymmetry of the mandible and maxilla. Facial asymmetry was more frequently seen in ULC than PPP children.