Three-Dimensional Eyeball and Orbit Volume Modification After LeFort III Midface Distraction

Area of Science:

• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Craniosynostosis often leads to midface hypoplasia, impacting orbital volume and ocular structures.
• LeFort III midface distraction is a surgical technique used to correct these deformities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate orbital volume changes after LeFort III midface distraction in craniosynostosis patients.
• To assess the influence of this distraction on eyeball volume and axial dimensions.
• To validate measurement techniques for orbital and eyeball volumes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized semiautomatic segmentation with haptics for orbital volume assessment.
• Employed 3D slicer software for automatic eyeball volume and diameter calculation from CT scans.
• Calculated reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and compared pre- and post-operative data with Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Main Results:

• Orbital volume increased significantly post-surgery (mean 30.32% left, 31.04% right).
• Eyeball volume increased by a mean of 12.3%.
• Significant increases were observed in eyeball axial dimensions along X and Y axes.

Conclusions:

• LeFort III midface distraction significantly augments orbital and eyeball volumes in syndromic craniostenosis.
• Haptic-aided semiautomatic segmentation and manual 3D slicer segmentation are reliable methods for volumetric analysis.