title: Comparison of soft-tissue profiles in Le Fort I osteotomy patients with Dolphin and Maxilim softwares.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To correct dentofacial deformities, a combination of orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery is needed. Prediction software packages are beneficial in treatment planning and achieving improved outcomes, but before using any software, its reliability and reproducibility must be assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 2-dimensional Dolphin (version 10; Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif) and 3-dimensional Maxilim (Medicim, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium) softwares in predicting the soft-tissue profiles of patients who had Le Fort I osteotomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presurgical and postsurgical cone-beam computed tomography synthesized lateral cephalograms of 13 patients were collected. Using the Dolphin and Maxilim softwares, the postsurgical profiles were predicted. The positions of the soft-tissue landmarks in profile views were compared with landmarks in the postsurgical photographs. The data were analyzed with the coefficient of reliability and paired-sample t tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alpha values of the interclass correlations for each landmark in the x and y planes were between 0.96 and 0.99, except for stomion superior in Maxilim (0.83). The 95% confidence interval and the absolute mean of the error showed that errors in the Dolphin software were greater than those in the Maxilim software, but the differences were not significant (P >0.05), except for soft-tissue A-point. The greatest errors were seen in the chin region. The prediction errors of the nasolabial and mentolabial angles were greater; the prediction error in the Dolphin software was 9°, which has clinical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Dolphin and Maxilim softwares are both appropriate for clinical use. Their inaccuracies in the prediction of the chin region should be considered in complicated surgical planning.
authors.affiliation: Professor and coordinating program director, and oral and maxillofacial surgeon, University of Antwerp; director, team for cleft and craniofacial anomalies, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nadjmi
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tehranchi
authors.forename: Niloufar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azami
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saedi
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mollemans
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002680:Chin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061827:Dimensional Measurement Accuracy; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008046:Lip / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult