Assessment of facial asymmetry before and after the surgical repair of cleft lip in unilateral cleft lip and palate cases

Al-Rudainy, D. , Ju, X., Mehendale, F. and Ayoub, A. (2018) Assessment of facial asymmetry before and after the surgical repair of cleft lip in unilateral cleft lip and palate cases. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 47(3), pp. 411-419. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2017.08.007) (PMID:28967531)

Abstract

This study was performed to assess facial asymmetry in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) before and after primary lip repair. Three-dimensional facial images of 30 UCLP cases (mean age 3.7 ± 0.8 months) captured 1–2 days before surgery and 4 months after surgery using stereophotogrammetry were analysed. A generic mesh – a mathematical facial mask consisting of thousands of points (vertices) – was conformed on the three-dimensional images. Average preoperative and postoperative conformed facial meshes were obtained and mirrored by reflecting on the lateral plane. Facial asymmetry was assessed by measuring the distances between the corresponding vertices of the superimposed facial meshes. Asymmetries were further examined in three directions: horizontal, vertical, and anteroposterior. Preoperatively, the philtrum and bridge of the nose were deviated towards the non-cleft side. The maximum vertical asymmetry was at the upper lip. The greatest anteroposterior asymmetry was at the alar base and in the paranasal area. The overall facial asymmetry improved markedly after surgery. Residual anteroposterior asymmetry was noted at the alar base, upper lip, and cheek on the cleft slide. In conclusion, dense correspondence analysis provided an insight into the anatomical reasons for the residual dysmorphology following the surgical repair of cleft lip for future surgical consideration.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ayoub, Professor Ashraf and Ju, Dr Xiangyang and Al-Rudainy, Dhelal Hatem Nsaif
• Authors: Al-Rudainy, D., Ju, X., Mehendale, F., and Ayoub, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0901-5027
• ISSN (Online): 1399-0020
• Published Online: 28 September 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 201747(3): 411-419
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy