Prediction of soft-tissue profile by video imaging in orthognathic surgery: cephalometric accuracy and orthodontists’ judgement

Alexandre Trindade Simões da MOTTA, Ione Helena Portela BRUNHARO, José Augusto Mendes MIGUEL, Jonas CAPELLI JR., Paulo José D’Albuquerque MEDEIROS, Marco Antonio de Oliveira ALMEIDA

Aim: To verify the accuracy of a video imaging software on the soft tissue profile prediction of patients who underwent different types of orthognathic surgery. Methods: Presurgical and posttreatment lateral cephalograms and photographs of 32 patients were used. Profile predictions were obtained from hard tissue manipulation on the presurgical tracings. Prediction evaluation was applied to the total sample and to subgroups with maxillary impaction or downgraft (V) or without surgeries in the vertical plane (AP). Points of prediction’s soft tissue line were compared with those of the posttreatment tracing. Prediction and posttreatment profile images were subjectively compared by 20 orthodontists. Five regions (overall profile, nose, upper lip, lower lip and chin) were graded from 0 to 100 with a visual analog scale. Results and Conclusions: Soft-tissue profile points showed location variability, with more than 60% of the errors up to 2mm and 17% greater than 3mm. Statistically significant differences in the cephalometric analysis were more frequently observed on the vertical plane. Nasolabial and mentolabial prediction angles were more acute than those of the posttreatment tracings. The aesthetic analysis showed greater mean values in comparison with other studies, varying from 56.00 for the lower lip to 75.42 for the nose. Prediction images precision showed no significant difference between cases with or without vertical changes. This program can be considered useful in orthodontic and surgical clinical practice. However, based on some observed limitations, the authors recommend caution in treatment planning and case presentation, and some predictions may require improvement with enhancement tools.

Keywords: Video imaging. Profile prediction. Orthognathic surgery.

Monday, April 29, 2024 17:49