Analysis of midface asymmetry in patients with cleft lip, alveolus and palate at the age of 3 months using 3D-COSMOS measuring system.
BACKGROUND
Patients suffering from unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate exhibit a varying degree of asymmetry of the midface. Evaluation of this asymmetry can be carried out by means of 3D-CT, or a laser surface scanner.


METHODS
In this paper, 3D-CT-scan data of 21 patients with unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate were analysed using three-dimensional models. Evaluations of the 3D-models were carried out with the computer-aided 3D-operation simulator 3D-Cosmos.


RESULTS
Asymmetry was found in the orbital, nasal and maxillary regions. The infraorbital rims were displaced craniocaudally and horizontally as well as laterally of the cleft-sided piriform aperture. This asymmetry corresponded to a dislocation of the maxillary segment on the cleft side. A deficit in volume was not reliably found.
Zemann
W
W
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical School University of Graz, Austria. wolfgang.zemann@kfunigraz.ac.at
Santler
G
G
Kärcher
H
H
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology*; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009915:Orbit / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*