title: 3D comparison of average faces in subjects with oral clefts.
abstract: This prospective cross-sectional, case-controlled morphometric study assessed three dimensional (3D) facial morphological differences between average faces of 103 children aged 8-12 years; 40 with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 23 with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (UCLA), 19 with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), 21 with isolated cleft palate (ICP), and 80 gender and age-matched controls. 3D stereophotogrammetric facial scans were recorded for each participant at rest. Thirty-nine landmarks were digitized for each scan, and x-, y-, z-coordinates for each landmark were extracted. A 3D photorealistic average face was constructed for each participating group and subjective and objective comparisons were carried out between each cleft and control average faces. Marked differences were observed between all groups. The most severely affected were groups where the lip and palate were affected and repaired (UCLP and UCLA). The group with midsagittal palatal deformity and repair (ICP) was the most similar to the control group. The results revealed that 3D shape analysis allows morphometric discrimination between subjects with craniofacial anomalies and the control group, and underlines the potential value of statistical shape analysis in assessing the outcomes of cleft lip and palate surgery, and orthodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Department, Dental Faculty, Benghazi University, Libya, isbugaighis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bugaighis
authors.affiliation: **Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiddeman
authors.affiliation: *** Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and.
authors.forename: Claire R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mattick
authors.affiliation: ****Private Practice, Windmill Dental Suite, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hobson
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002610:Cheek / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005145:Face; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015050:Zygoma / Q000473:pathology