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PIERRE ROBIN SYNDROME
DEFINITION:
A disorder of the oral cavity characterized by
 micrognathia,
 glossoptosis,
 and high-arched or cleft palate.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 incidence: ?
 age of onset:
 birth
 risk factors:
 familial - autosomal recessive
 chrom.#: ?
 gene: ?
 (there may be an x-linked variant)
 M = F
 Trisomy 18, Stickler Syndrome
PATHOGENESIS:
1. Background
 also called Pierre Robin Sequence, Robin Sequence, Cleft Palate- Micrognathia-Glossoptosis
2. Pathogenesis
 abnormal mandibular development prior to 9 weeks gestational age -> hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the mandible (jaw) -> mandibular retrognathia -> posterior displacement of the attachment of the genioglossus muscle (tongue) -> impaired closure of the posterior palatal shelves -> cleft, u-shaped, or high-arched palate
 the posterior displacement of the tongue and hypoplastic mandible results in the tongue falling back obstructing the pharynx resulting in acute upper airway obstruction when the infant is placed in the supine position
CLINICAL FEATURES:
1. Oral Manifestations
 micrognathia (small jaw) with small buccal cavity
 glossoptosis (downward displacement of the tongue) with pseudomacroglossia
 high-arched, u-shaped, or cleft palate
2. Complications
 upper airway obstruction in the supine position +/- hypoxia, failure to thrive, cor pulmonale
 feeding difficulties
 congenital heart disease in 14% of cases
 dental anomalies
INVESTIGATIONS:
1. Skeletal X-Rays
 hypoplastic mandible
MANAGEMENT:
1. Maintain Patent Upper Airway
 place infant in prone (face down) position to have the tongue fall forward
 temporary tongue-lip suture (Beverly Douglas procedure) if unable to keep the airway patent
 oral airway if indicated
 intubation if unable to protect the upper airway
2. Feeding Difficulties
 feed in an upright position using a modified nipple
 gavage feeds may not be necessary
3. Surgery
 to correct a cleft palate
4. Prognosis
 mandibular growth within the first few months of age relieves the glossoptosis and growth proceeds so that there is a normal mandibular profile by 4-6 years of age
 normal life span and normal intelligence if no complications (i.e., hypoxia due to upper airway obstruction
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