Use of orthopedic finger distractor for facial asymmetry correction.

Facial asymmetry after unilateral ankylosis results due to the loss of the condylar growth center on the ankylosed side. This results in the skeletal midline deviating to the affected side, a lack of vertical growth on the same side produces a cant of the occlusal plane and mandibular retrognathism is seen as a result of the hypoplasia. The lower border of the mandibular corpus and angle on the contra lateral side is usually flattened. We report a case of facial asymmetry following unilateral ankylosis, which was treated by a combined approach with distraction osteogenesis and orthodontics. Inexpensive orthopedic finger distractors were used. The facial changes were analyzed using the Grummons facial asymmetry analysis.