title: The practicability of finite-element analysis for assessing changes in human craniofacial morphology from cephalographs.
abstract: The usefulness of a finite-element analytical (FEA) method for studying changes in facial form was investigated. The material was lateral cephalographs of 19 patients who had undergone surgical correction of the chin. FEA was used to assess changes in bony form brought about by surgery. Replicate digitization of cephalographic landmarks was used to minimize measurement error. Random and systematic errors were examined and their influence on the finite-element method was assessed. However, the sensitivity of FEA is such that the level of residual measurement error affects the reliability of the method and makes the technique unsuitable for individual cases. However, for pooled data from a group of cases the effect of measurement error is reduced and the reliability of the analysis is satisfactory for intergroup comparison.
authors.affiliation: Oral Surgery Department, Glasgow Dental Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Stirrups
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002680:Chin / Q000601:surgery; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology