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Therapeutic approTherapeutic Approach To The Parry-Romberg Syndrome Based On A Severity Grading System

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The Parry-Romberg Syndrome (PRS) is characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy that often leads to severe esthetic and functional difficulties. Although there are systems for grading disease severity, none have proven ideal in optimizing the therapeutic approach to these patients. This study aimed to establish the surgical strategies for the treatment of PRS based on a new system for severity grading of the disease.

Methods:

This retrospective study included PRS patients undergoing surgery between 2005 and 2011. The surgical strategies were adapted for each patient according to a clinical severity grading system based on disease progression: type I, affecting the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue; type II, type I + muscle involvement; and type III, Types I+ II + bone involvement. The sample included four patients (28.57%) with PRS type I, six patients (42.85%) with PRS type II, and four patients (28.57%) with PRS type III.

Results:

Forty-seven procedures were performed. Free-fat grafts were used in all patients. Dermal fat grafts were used in all type II patients and one type III patient (25%). Bone grafts with temporoparietal fascia flaps were performed for the treatment of all type III patients. One type III patient (25%) underwent orthognathic surgery. All patients were improved in their overall facial appearance and there were no procedure-related complications.

Conclusion:

Our proposed system for grading PRS severity can facilitate the choice of therapeutic approaches and with a combination of surgical techniques based on the severity of the disease partially satisfactory outcomes can be attained.

Keywords:
Parry-Romberg syndrome; Progressive hemifacial atrophy; Surgical treatment; Grading system

RESUMO

Introdução:

Síndrome de Parry-Romberg (SPR) é caracterizada pela atrofia hemifacial progressiva que, muitas vezes, resulta em graves distúrbios estéticos e funcionais. Embora existam escalas de gravidade, nenhuma delas é completamente ideal para auxiliar na abordagem terapêutica destes pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi delinear as estratégias cirúrgicas para o tratamento da SPR baseado em um novo sistema de classificação de gravidade da doença.

Método:

Trata-se de uma análise retrospectiva dos pacientes com SPR operados em 2005-2011. As abordagens cirúrgicas foram individualizadas de acordo com a escala de gravidade clínica baseada na evolução da doença: tipos I (envolvimento da epiderme, derme e tecido subcutâneo); II (tipo I + envolvimento muscular); e III (tipo I + II + envolvimento ósseo). Quatro (28,57%) pacientes com SPR tipo I, 6 (42,85%) tipo II e 4 (28,57%) tipo III foram incluídos.

Resultado:

Um total de 47 procedimentos foi realizado. Gordura livre foi enxertada em todos os pacientes. Todos os pacientes do tipo II e 1 (25%) do tipo III foram submetidos a enxertos dermogordurosos. Enxertos ósseos com retalhos de fáscia têmporo-parietal foram aplicados no tratamento de todos os pacientes do tipo III. Um (25%) paciente do tipo III foi submetido à cirurgia ortognática. Houve melhora global na aparência facial em todos os pacientes, sem complicações relacionadas aos procedimentos.

Conclusão:

O sistema de classificação de gravidade proposto para a SPR pode facilitar a decisão terapêutica e resultados parcialmente satisfatórios podem ser alcançados com a combinação de técnicas cirúrgicas de acordo com a gravidade da doença.

Descritores:
Síndrome de Parry-Romberg; Atrofia facial progressiva; Tratamento cirúrgico; Sistema de classificação

INTRODUCTION

The Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS), also known as progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare craniofacial condition of unknown etiology. The disease is primarily characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy, affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissues, muscles, nerves, cartilage, and, less frequently, the bones11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,22 El-Kehdy J, Abbas O, Rubeiz N. A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(4):769-84.. These alterations often lead to tridimensional asymmetry in the faces of these patients and are associated with severe functional and psychological disturbances11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,22 El-Kehdy J, Abbas O, Rubeiz N. A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(4):769-84.. As such, craniofacial surgeries, aimed at restoring facial symmetry, are a crucial part of the strategy leading to the full rehabilitation of these patients11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,33 Wójcicki P, Zachara M. Surgical treatment of patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;66(3):267-72.. However, and in spite of the three previously reported grading systems for PRS severity,44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.,66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41. there is no consensus regarding the appropriate surgical procedures to be employed for each degree of severity11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,33 Wójcicki P, Zachara M. Surgical treatment of patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;66(3):267-72.

4 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41..

Thus, the aim of this study was to establish craniofacial surgical strategies for the treatment of PRS based on a new grading system for the severity of the Parry-Romberg syndrome.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of all PRS patients surgically treated in the Sobrapar Hospital between 2005 and 2011. All aspects concerning surgical interventions were verified by analyzing the medical records, photographs, and clinical interviews. Patients with facial atrophy of known origin (trauma, burns, or craniofacial tumors) and patients with incomplete medical files and/or with incomplete postsurgical follow-up were excluded.

Fourteen patients with a diagnosis of PRS met the inclusion criteria. The average patient age was 19.4 years. Eleven patients (78.57%) were women and three (21.43%) were men. Eleven patients (78.57) had atrophy on the right side of the face, two (14.29%) on the left side, and one (7.14%) had bilateral facial atrophy.

Surgical interventions

The four surgical procedures (free-fat grafts,77 Pu LL, Coleman SR, Cui X, Ferguson RE Jr, Vasconez HC. Autolo gous fat grafts harvested and refined by the Coleman technique: a comparative study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008;122(3):932-7.,88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53. dermal fat grafts,99 Raposo do Amaral CE, Cetrulo CL Jr, Pereira CL, Guidi Mde C, Raposo do Amaral CM. Augmentation gluteoplasty with dermal-fat autografting from the lower abdomen. Aesthet Surg J. 2006;26(3):290-6. cranial bone grafts with temporoparietal fascia flaps (TPFF),1010 Brent B, Byrd HS. Secondary ear reconstruction with cartilage grafts covered by axial, random, and free flaps of temporoparietal fascia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1983;72(2):141-52.,1111 Raposo-do-Amaral CE, Raposo-do-Amaral CA, Guidi M, Buzzo C. The role of temporoparietal fascia flap in craniofacial skeleton and secondary ear reconstruction. Rev Bras Cir Craniomaxilofac. 2010;13(1):1-6. and orthognathic surgery1212 Thaller SR, Bradley JP, Garri JI. Craniofacial Surgery. New York: Informa Healthcare USA; 2007.) used to correct the craniofacial defects of the PRS patients have been previously described.

Free-fat grafts:77 Pu LL, Coleman SR, Cui X, Ferguson RE Jr, Vasconez HC. Autolo gous fat grafts harvested and refined by the Coleman technique: a comparative study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008;122(3):932-7.,88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53. The collection, preparation, and injection of the free-fat grafts were based on the technique described by Coleman et al77 Pu LL, Coleman SR, Cui X, Ferguson RE Jr, Vasconez HC. Autolo gous fat grafts harvested and refined by the Coleman technique: a comparative study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008;122(3):932-7.. A 2-3mm diameter cannula connected to a 10 mL manual syringe (negative pressure) was used to collect the fat tissue preferentially from the lower abdomen or less frequently from the medial thigh. The aspirated tissue was centrifuged for 2 minutes at 2000 rpm. Following the removal of the supernatant, the fat was transferred to 1 mL syringes and injected into the affected facial regions. Multiple access points, multiple tunnels, and multiple layers were used to transfer small aliquots of fat, at different depths, to the hypoplastic facial regions. Approximately 0.1ml of fat was deposited with each cannula insertion.

Dermal fat grafts99 Raposo do Amaral CE, Cetrulo CL Jr, Pereira CL, Guidi Mde C, Raposo do Amaral CM. Augmentation gluteoplasty with dermal-fat autografting from the lower abdomen. Aesthet Surg J. 2006;26(3):290-6.: The longest horizontal axis of lower abdominal region was determined. This area was deepithelized (total thickness) with the aponeurosis of the rectus abdominis muscle serving as the lower limit for the dissection. The dermal fat graft was cut in the shape of a triangle and then introduced in the affected facial region; meticulous technique ensured minimal facial undermining.

Cranial bone grafts with TPFF1010 Brent B, Byrd HS. Secondary ear reconstruction with cartilage grafts covered by axial, random, and free flaps of temporoparietal fascia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1983;72(2):141-52.,1111 Raposo-do-Amaral CE, Raposo-do-Amaral CA, Guidi M, Buzzo C. The role of temporoparietal fascia flap in craniofacial skeleton and secondary ear reconstruction. Rev Bras Cir Craniomaxilofac. 2010;13(1):1-6.: The superficial temporal artery was carefully marked along its entire course. The initial incision of the scalp was performed in the most distal position in relation to the origin of the superficial temporal artery. The scalp was elevated in the subcutaneous plane towards the ear. Following the complete elevation of the scalp skin graft, the graft’s axial pedicle was exposed. The thin superficial temporoparietal fascia was then elevated in its entirety, followed by dissection in the subgaleal plane. The periosteal flap was delineated and elevated to expose the frontal bone and the orbital cone. A craniotomy was performed in the parietal area. The parietal bone, in its entire thickness, was divided. One subciliary incision with zygomaticomaxillary exposure allowed the correct fixation of segments of the bone flap to the recipient hypoplastic region with 1.5mm screws. The external bone flap was returned to the donor parietal region. The TPFF was then rotated towards the region of the facial deformity to cover the bone flap.

Scale for grading clinical severity

All surgical approaches were individually considered according to the grading scale for the severity of the disease developed by our group. The distinction between the three degrees of severity was based on photographs, and on clinical, radiographic, and tomographic examinations, The three grades were: mild (type I), with epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous tissue involvement; moderate (type II), with epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous tissue involvement, as well as muscle involvement; and severe (type III), with epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous tissue involvement, as well as muscle and bone involvement (Table 1). Based on this scale, four (28.57%) patients were classified as type I, six (42.85%) patients as type II, and four (28.57%) patients as type III.

Table 1
Surgical approach according to the grading scale for severity based on the clinical findings in the Parry-Romberg syn drome proposed in this study.

Evaluation of craniofacial surgical results

All surgical results were evaluated by the same plastic surgeon who had no previous contact with the patients. Pre-operative frontal, oblique, and profile facial photographs, taken days or weeks before the first surgical procedure, were compared to post-surgery photographs taken 12-14 months after the last surgical procedure. Photographs were classified according to a scale for grading the degree of improvement of the facial symmetry previously used in PRS88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.: (a) satisfactory result, symmetrical face with no need for additional interventions; (b) partially satisfactory result, overall improvement of the facial appearance but facial asymmetry can still be observed after careful examination; and (c) unsatisfactory result, lack of evident improvement in facial symmetry after the surgical interventions.

RESULTS

The indications for surgical procedures were asymmetry/facial malformation (100%), hypoplasia of the soft tissues (71.43%), and hypoplasia of the soft tissues and bones (28.57%). In total, 47 craniofacial surgical interventions were performed based on the clinical severity of each patient’s disease and also on the basis of the level of soft tissue alterations detected by the pre-surgical evaluations. The number of surgeries performed in each patient was variable (1-6 procedures/patient). The average number of interventions per patient was 2.5 procedures/patient in type I PRS patients, 3.33 procedures/patient in type II patients, and 4.5 procedures/ patient in type III patients. All patients received free-fat grafts at some point during the treatment period (type I: 1-4 free-fat grafts/patient; type II: 1-6 free-fat grafts/patient; and type III: 2-5 free-fat grafts/patient). Five (35.71%) patients received dermal fat grafts (type I: none; type II: 1-3 dermal fat grafts/ patient; and type III: 1 dermal fat graft/patient). Four patients (28.57%) had cranial bone grafts with TPFF (types I and II: none; and type III: 1 cranial bone graft/patient) and one patient (7.14%) underwent orthognathic surgery (types I and II: none; and type III: 0.25 TPFF/patient) (Table 2).

Table 2
Distribution of the surgical procedures performed in patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome (n=14) according to the clinical severity of the disease.

Utilizing the different combinations of surgeries we attained an overall improvement in the facial appearance (partially satisfactory result) in all patients (Figures 1-5). In this series, there was no satisfactory or unsatisfactory result according to the scale introduced by Xie et al.88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53. A variable degree of fat absorption was detected following free-fat grafting. There was no infection or necrosis in any of the dermal fat grafts or cranial bone grafts with TPFF. In addition, there were no complications in the donor areas.

Figure 1
(Above, left) Pre-surgical frontal photographs of a three-year-old type I Parry-Romberg syndrome patient showing early manifestations of the disease (Table 2, patient D). (Above, right) Frontal photograph of the same patient, two years later, showing the slow progression of the disease in this case. (Below, left) At seven years of age, the patient underwent hemifacial free-fat inclusion and otoplasty for correction of his prominent ears. (Below, right) Two years after the surgery, the patient had a satisfactory esthetic result, with maintenance of the volume in the right hemiface and without any signs of recurrent ear deformity.

Figure 2
(Left) Pre-surgical frontal photographs of a 6-year-old type II Parry-Romberg syndrome patient (Table 2, Patient J). (Right) Post-surgical frontal photograph of the same patient, three years after initial hemifacial (left) free-fat inclusion surgery.

Figure 3
(Left) Pre-surgical oblique photographs of the same patient as in Figure 2. A hyperchromic stain in the middle third of the face can be observed. (Right) Post free-fat inclusion surgery oblique photographs of the same patient showing a significant improvement in the facial atrophy and hyperchromic stain that covered the entire middle third of the child’s face.

Figure 4
(Left) Pre-surgical frontal photograph of a type III Parry-Romberg syndrome patient (Table 2, patient N). (Right) Post-surgical frontal photograph of the same patient after the following series of surgeries: free-fat graft, parietal bone grafts with rotation of the superficial temporal fascia flaps over the bone grafts, and combined orthognathic surgery and free-fat graft.

DISCUSSION

PRS is a craniofacial deformity of unknown etiology, with a higher prevalence in women. It affects the face unilaterally in 95% of cases and usually has its onset during the first or second decades of life, with an active phase spanning 2-10 years before clinical stabilization11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,22 El-Kehdy J, Abbas O, Rubeiz N. A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(4):769-84..

Two Mexican44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.,55 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34. and one Chinese66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41. classification systems have previously been used to grade the clinical severity of the disease. The grading system by Iñigo et al44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.. is based on the involvement of tissues in the region of the trigeminal nerve (dermatomes), whereas the classifications by Guerrerosantos et al.55 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34. and Hu et al.66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41. are based uniquely on tissue involvement. In this study, we propose a severity scale related to the clinical progression of the disease, associated with anatomical involvement, independent of the affected dermatome.

The onset of PRS appears to be associated with atrophy of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, with progressive involvement of the facial muscles followed by bony involvement11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,22 El-Kehdy J, Abbas O, Rubeiz N. A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(4):769-84.. Thus far, there have been no reports in the literature of bony involvement without disease in the surrounding soft tissues. Actually, a close relation between bone involvement and the severity of facial atrophy has been reported. Additionally, the restriction imposed by the deformed soft tissues leads to compromised bone growth1313 Moore MH, Wong KS, Proudman TW, David DJ. Progressive hemifacial atrophy (Romberg’s disease): skeletal involvement and treatment. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(1):39-44.. Therefore, type III disease represents the progression of types I and II disease, and type II is the result of the progression of type I disease. These degrees of disease severity reflect the progression of the disease itself, which suggests that this classification is both logical and functional. In addition, this classification can be used to guide the therapeutic approach to patients with PRS.

It should be emphasized that this grading system was based solely on the analysis of 14 patients with PRS and is supported by other studies44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41. with limited numbers of patients. As such, multicenter studies, including a larger number of patients, should be done so that the clinical progression of PRS can be better characterized, and potentially corroborate our findings.

Because PRS is usually associated with tridimensional craniofacial deformities, the complete restoration of facial symmetry is often difficult to achieve33 Wójcicki P, Zachara M. Surgical treatment of patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;66(3):267-72.

4 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.. Furthermore, there is no consensus regarding the ideal surgical treatment for the wide spectrum of soft tissue and bone hypoplasia found in PRS, though several therapeutic options (free-fat grafts, dermal fat grafts, cartilage and bone grafts, muscle flaps, and alloplastic implants) have been described with the aim of increasing the facial volume lost to progressive atrophy11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,33 Wójcicki P, Zachara M. Surgical treatment of patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;66(3):267-72.

4 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.

15 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.

16 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.

17 Yu-Feng L, Lai G, Zhi-Yong Z. Combined treatments of facial con tour deformities resulting from Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2008;24(5):333-42.

18 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4.
-1919 Cardoso LA, Carvalho PM, Kohatsu EM, Cardoso KT, Alves KV, Souza TL. Uma nova opção cirúrgica para a Síndrome de Romberg. Acta Medica Misericordiae. 2000;3(1):32-5..

The clinical phase, whether active or stable, is highly relevant in determining the optimal surgical treatment of PRS. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the ideal time for correcting the patient’s deformities88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4.. Traditionally, surgical procedures have only been performed after the stabilization of facial atrophy.66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.,88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4. However, it should be noted that the time required for stabilization of the disease is variable and unpredictable1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10., and children with PRS can develop psychosocial disturbances while awaiting surgery1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.. This is particularly true with regard to peer interactions in school for example, and may directly impact the patient’s quality of life. In light of these findings, our group and others1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10. have supported the view that craniofacial surgical interventions should be performed earlier, especially in those children with craniofacial deformities that, if left untreated, might lead to psychosocial impairments and learning disabilities. Early intervention may potentially improve or maintain physical capacities, levels of independence, and social relations at a critical time in the development of the patient1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73..

In craniofacial surgery clinics, the protocols for treatment of craniofacial hypoplasias are guided primarily by facial growth and the functional needs of the patients2020 Lim AA, Fan K, Allam KA, Wan D, Tabit C, Liao E, et al. Autologous fat transplantation in the craniofacial patient: the UCLA experience. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(4):1061-6.. In addition, a successful therapeutic approach requires individualized treatments employing reconstructive procedures at the soft tissue and bone level, performed at the appropriate time.2020 Lim AA, Fan K, Allam KA, Wan D, Tabit C, Liao E, et al. Autologous fat transplantation in the craniofacial patient: the UCLA experience. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(4):1061-6. Taking these principles into consideration, the current therapeutic approach for PRS consists, in general, of either only one procedure or combined surgical procedures.11 Hunt JA, Hobar PC. Common craniofacial anomalies: conditions of craniofacial atrophy/hypoplasia and neoplasia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(4):1497-508.,22 El-Kehdy J, Abbas O, Rubeiz N. A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(4):769-84. Our group and others44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.,1717 Yu-Feng L, Lai G, Zhi-Yong Z. Combined treatments of facial con tour deformities resulting from Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2008;24(5):333-42. have treated each patient according to the degree of tissue atrophy44 Iñigo F, Rojo P, Ysunza A. Aesthetic treatment of Romberg’s disease: experience with 35 cases. Br J Plast Surg. 1993;46(3):194200.

5 Guerrerosantos J, Guerrerosantos F, Orozco J. Classification and treatment of facial tissue atrophy in Parry-Romberg disease. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007;31(5):424-34.
-66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10. and also according to the age of the patient1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7..

Recently, a therapeutic algorithm addressing hypoplasia of the soft tissues in PRS has been described. However, bone defects in these patients were not considered in the grading system1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.. In patients with type III disease an increase in soft tissue alone is not sufficient1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4.. Therefore, we have favored a therapeutic strategy that combines the reconstruction of both soft tissue and bone: free-fat grafts for those patients with type I PRS, free-fat grafts or dermal fat grafts for type II PRS patients, and bone grafts with TPFF for type III PRS patients (Figure 6).

In our hospital, as well as at the UCLA Craniofacial Clinic1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.

15 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.
-1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.,2020 Lim AA, Fan K, Allam KA, Wan D, Tabit C, Liao E, et al. Autologous fat transplantation in the craniofacial patient: the UCLA experience. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(4):1061-6., the serial free-fat graft has been the first-choice method for the reconstruction of soft tissues in several craniofacial abnormalities, including PRS. Along with other authors88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.,2020 Lim AA, Fan K, Allam KA, Wan D, Tabit C, Liao E, et al. Autologous fat transplantation in the craniofacial patient: the UCLA experience. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(4):1061-6., we prefer the free-fat graft instead of the injection of synthetic materials that more commonly lead to infection, seroma, exposure, and migration1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.,2020 Lim AA, Fan K, Allam KA, Wan D, Tabit C, Liao E, et al. Autologous fat transplantation in the craniofacial patient: the UCLA experience. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(4):1061-6.. With regard to free-fat grafts, it should be noted that adipose tissue is among the tissues with highest angiogenic capacity2121 Lemoine AY, Ledoux S, Larger E. Adipose tissue angiogenesis in obesity. Thromb Haemost. 2013;110(4):661-9.. A series of studies have shown that free-fat grafts are associated with local neo-angiogenesis, which indicates that this intervention contributes to an improved vascularization of the receiving area. In PRS, compromised vascularization in the affected area may be the cause of soft tissue atrophy, and consequently, atrophy of the underlying bony structure1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4.. Therefore, we believe that free-fat grafting can alter the prognosis of patients with type I PRS, as it may slow disease progression through improvement of local vascularization. Other investigators have also reported that the vascularized free flap can potentially act as a barrier against PRS progression1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4.. Future studies should focus on the angiogenesis associated with free-fat grafts, as well as on their impact on PRS progression, perhaps employing Doppler scans to measure disease progression.

The variability in the survival rate of free-fat grafts has been reported as one of the main concerns with regard to this therapeutic approach1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.,2424 Tabit CJ, Slack GC, Fan K, Wan DC, Bradley JP. Fat grafting versus adipose-derived stem cell therapy: distinguishing indications, techniques, and outcomes. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2012;36(3):704-13.. We, along with others88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53., have shown subjectively that patients with PRS absorb a certain degree of the grafted free-fat. However, no specific research on the level of free-fat absorption, or on the factors that may decrease absorption, have been done. Any information regarding the existence of fat absorption should be interpreted cautiously. One published study1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10. investigated the rate of retention of the free-fat graft in the post-surgical period (1 year) and claimed that the “stickiness” of the free-fat graft is lower in PRS patients than in healthy patients without PRS. This diminished incorporation of the free-fat graft can be a consequence of both the poor vascularization at the receptor site, as well as other intrinsic characteristics of the PRS-affected region1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10..

In addition, the age of the PRS patient can influence the survival of the free-fat grafts1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.. Laboratory studies2626 Zhu M, Kohan E, Bradley J, Hedrick M, Benhaim P, Zuk P. The effect of age on osteogenic, adipogenic and proliferative potential of female adipose-derived stem cells. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2009;3(4):290-301.,2727 Kanchwala SK, Bucky LP. Invited discussion: correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):654. have shown that free-fat grafts are more effective in younger patients. Besides age, other factors have been reported to influence the absorption rate of free-fat grafts2626 Zhu M, Kohan E, Bradley J, Hedrick M, Benhaim P, Zuk P. The effect of age on osteogenic, adipogenic and proliferative potential of female adipose-derived stem cells. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2009;3(4):290-301.

27 Kanchwala SK, Bucky LP. Invited discussion: correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):654.
-2828 Mojallal A, Lequeux C, Shipkov C, Duclos A, Braye F, Rohrich R, et al. Influence of age and body mass index on the yield and proliferation capacity of adipose-derived stem cells. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2011;35(6):1097-105. including sedimentation rate, the nutritional status of the patient, and body mass index. However, there is no consensus on the actual impact of these variables on the absorption of free-fat grafts2222 Sultan SM, Barr JS, Butala P, Davidson EH, Weinstein AL, Knobel D, et al. Fat grafting accelerates revascularisation and decreases fibrosis following thermal injury. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012;65(2):219-27.

23 Hamed S, Ben-Nun O, Egozi D, Keren A, Malyarova N, Kruchevsky D, et al. Treating fat grafts with human endothelial progenitor cells promotes their vascularization and improves their survival in diabetes mellitus. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012;130(4):801-11.

24 Tabit CJ, Slack GC, Fan K, Wan DC, Bradley JP. Fat grafting versus adipose-derived stem cell therapy: distinguishing indications, techniques, and outcomes. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2012;36(3):704-13.

25 Yuan Y, Gao J, Liu L, Lu F. Role of adipose-derived stem cells in enhancing angiogenesis early after aspirated fattransplantation: induction or differentiation? Cell Biol Int. 2013;37(6):547-50.

26 Zhu M, Kohan E, Bradley J, Hedrick M, Benhaim P, Zuk P. The effect of age on osteogenic, adipogenic and proliferative potential of female adipose-derived stem cells. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2009;3(4):290-301.

27 Kanchwala SK, Bucky LP. Invited discussion: correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):654.
-2828 Mojallal A, Lequeux C, Shipkov C, Duclos A, Braye F, Rohrich R, et al. Influence of age and body mass index on the yield and proliferation capacity of adipose-derived stem cells. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2011;35(6):1097-105.. Hence, future research should focus on defining the roles of these different factors on the rate of incorporation of free-fat grafts. Meanwhile, the use of free-fat grafts, in particular in PRS patients, should be based on objective data, such as the volumetric tridimensional photogrammetric analysis of the faces of these patients. This type of analysis has demonstrated the improvement in symmetry and in the facial volume of patients one year after the free-fat injections, when compared with facial symmetry and facial volume prior to the intervention1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.. Furthermore, the impact of surgical interventions in the psychosocial context and quality of life of these patients should also be considered when choosing a therapeutic approach1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73..

Assuming that some degree of fat absorption will occur in the post-surgical period,88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10. we and others88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.,2727 Kanchwala SK, Bucky LP. Invited discussion: correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):654. prefer to over-correct the facial defect when transferring autogenic tissue. Xie et al88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.. have over-corrected by 20-30% of the total injected volume, as it has been reported that about 70-80% of the free-fat can survive following graft transplantation in PRS patients88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.. Along with others, we have used grafts with approximately 10% more volume than that required to achieve symmetry in the patient’s face with the aim of attaining a higher survival rate of the fat and decreasing the degree of fat necrosis and the formation of palpable nodules2727 Kanchwala SK, Bucky LP. Invited discussion: correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):654.. In addition, the free-fat graft procedure can be performed several times without worsening the disease, based on the individual patient’s requirements during the follow-up period88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.

15 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.
-1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10..

Decreased blood circulation can be demonstrated in the atrophic facial tissues, specifically in type III patients. This may decrease the viability of the graft following surgery66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.. In these cases, we prefer TPFF, as this approach provides additional blood flow to the bone graft, as well as to fat grafts that may be placed in the future. In this series we did not observe clinically relevant reabsorption of any of the bone grafts associated with TPFF, which contrasts with the findings of other studies1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73. that have used layering of bone grafts without additional blood flow. Our findings are in line with a study1818 Myung Y, Lee YH, Chang H. Surgical correction of progressive he mifacial atrophy with onlay bone graft combined with soft tissue augmentation. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(6):1841-4. that previously reported improved results by combining rib bone grafts with free dermal fascia flaps of the lateral intercostal artery perforator.

We prefer to use the TPFF procedure as this flap has several advantages such as a flexible outline, high vascularization with a wide pedicle rotation arch, anatomic proximity to structures in the face, and minimal morbidity of the donor site, among others1111 Raposo-do-Amaral CE, Raposo-do-Amaral CA, Guidi M, Buzzo C. The role of temporoparietal fascia flap in craniofacial skeleton and secondary ear reconstruction. Rev Bras Cir Craniomaxilofac. 2010;13(1):1-6.,2929 Collar RM, Zopf D, Brown D, Fung K, Kim J. The versatility of the temporoparietal fascia flap in head and neck reconstruction. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012;65(2):141-8., that facilitate and contribute to the symmetrical and harmonious reconstruction of the face. This procedure also assures adequate blood flow to the associated cranial graft without the need for microsurgical procedures that require additional skills1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7..

There is no consensus in the literature concerning the age at which PRS patients should undergo surgical therapy. Many authors contend that correction of hypoplasia of the soft tissues should be performed only after treatment of the bony defects1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.,1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.. Meanwhile, we agree with others who have treated patients as early as possible, independent of the clinical severity of the disease1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10.. Satisfaction associated with the results of surgery has been higher for the youngest PRS patients, even if more surgeries were required during the followup period1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.. It should be emphasized that before reaching seven years of age, patients have insufficient donor regions and the parietal bone is not thick enough to be divided3030 Tessier P. Autogenous bone grafts taken from the calvarium for facial and cranial applications. Clin Plast Surg. 1982;9(4):531-8.. Therefore, patients younger than seven years old are limited to serial free-fat grafting.

The maturity of the craniofacial bones is also relevant in the decision-making process using a different therapeutic algorithm1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7., since, as previously mentioned, only the reconstruction of soft tissue defects has been graded1515 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.. As the bones of patients with type III disease become involved, malocclusion can occur as the craniofacial bones stop growing. These patients may have skeletal open-bite malocclusion as a consequence of progressive unilateral atrophy of the jaw. Therefore, coordinated planning of these procedures by the plastic surgeon and the orthodontic surgeon is paramount. According to our experience and that of others66 Hu J, Yin L, Tang X, Gui L, Zhang Z. Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction for severe Parry-Romberg syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2011;22(3):937-41.,1414 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: optimal timing for hard and soft tissue procedures. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):1969-73.

15 Tanna N, Broer PN, Roostaeian J, Bradley JP, Levine JP, Saadeh PB. Soft tissue correction of craniofacial microsomia and progressive hemifacial atrophy. J Craniofac Surg. 2012;23(7 Suppl 1):2024-7.
-1616 Slack GC, Tabit CJ, Allam KA, Kawamoto HK, Bradley JP. Parry-Romberg reconstruction: beneficial results despite poorer fat take. Ann Plast Surg. 2014;73(3):307-10., such patients can be considered candidates for combined orthognathic surgeries with or without osteodistraction, aimed at decreasing facial asymmetry, and may be followed by augmentation of the soft tissues with the use of serial free-fat grafts.

Our study, similar to previous studies88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53., evaluated the results of craniofacial surgical procedures subjectively with the use of a previously described scale in PRS patients88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53.. All patients had an overall improvement in facial appearance. However, a carefully conducted evaluation showed residual facial asymmetry and additional interventions were likely required, as showed in Figures 4 and 5. In addition, and despite the partially satisfactory results achieved, the analysis method88 Xie Y, Li Q, Zheng D, Lei H, Pu LL. Correction of hemifacial atrophy with autologous fat transplantation. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59(6):645-53. used has limitations, as it is based on a static characterization of a dynamic disease and therapeutic interventions that change over time (i.e., the absorption of grafts or flaps). Follow-up continues for all of the PRS patients reported here and new surgical approaches will be adopted in the future depending on the individual needs of each patient. Future studies using objective analytic methods, such as photogrammetric volumetric quantification or tomography, are expected to help elucidate the nature of PRS and the optimal therapy for this condition.

Figure 5
(Left) Pre-surgical oblique photograph of the same patient as in Figure 4. The severe facial atrophy can be observed. (Right) Post-surgical oblique photograph of the same patient showing significant improvement of the facial atrophy.

Figure 6
Therapeutic algorithm for the surgical treatment of hypoplasia of the soft tissues and craniofacial bones in patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome based on clinical severity.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective study, the therapeutic approach to patients with PRS was guided by the graded severity of the craniofacial deformation. The scale for grading severity proposed here describes the clinical stages of the disease and contributes to the decision-making process when considering the different therapeutic approaches in PRS patients.

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    Tessier P. Autogenous bone grafts taken from the calvarium for facial and cranial applications. Clin Plast Surg. 1982;9(4):531-8.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    16 June 2023
  • Date of issue
    Jan-Mar 2014

History

  • Received
    19 Aug 2013
  • Accepted
    30 Oct 2013
Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica Rua Funchal, 129 - 2º Andar / cep: 04551-060, São Paulo - SP / Brasil, Tel: +55 (11) 3044-0000 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rbcp@cirurgiaplastica.org.br