Diana S. Vásquez-Sotelo, Neurodevelopment Service, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia No. 4 “Luis Castelazo Ayala,” Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico
The etiological diversity of neonatal facial asymmetries, ranging from genetic to traumatic causes, justifies a review to structure the differential diagnosis, accurately define the prognosis, and ensure early multidisciplinary management. The objective is to identify the most common diagnoses associated with neonatal facial asymmetry. A narrative literature review (2018-2025) was conducted across the PubMed, Embase, and SciELO databases using Medical Subject Headings terms and Boolean operators. Thirty-five articles were selected based on their clinical relevance to the neonatal population. Traumatic or compressive peripheral facial paralysis is the most frequent etiology. Within the syndromic scope, 22q11.2 microdeletions are prominent, whereas congenital hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle was identified as the primary non-paralytic congenital anomaly. Functional prognosis varies significantly depending on the underlying cause, necessitating interventions ranging from immediate corneal protection to advanced surgical reanimation techniques for chronic cases. The spectrum of neonatal facial asymmetry requires a structured approach. Early differential diagnosis is vital to determine the functional prognosis and implement timely, specialized intervention.
Keywords: Neonate. Facial paralysis. Facial asymmetry. Differential diagnosis.
