Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Quantitative Assessment Protocol for Facial Soft Tissue Volumetric Changes with Stereophotogrammetry
Published on: December 9, 2025
The reproducibility and clinical utility of the 3D camera for measuring scar height, with a protocol for
Z Tyack1,2, M Simons1,3, R M Kimble1,4,5
1Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Level 7, Children's Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Background:
This study aimed to determine the reproducibility and clinical utility of a 3D camera for measuring burn scar height in adults.
Methods:
Participants from a larger prospective longitudinal study were included. Reproducibility data were collected using an immediate test-retest interval and a 1-2 week test-retest interval and included reliability and agreement. The LifeViz™ 3D camera was used to measure scar height. Reproducibility was tested using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), percentage agreement within 1 mm between test and retest, standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change (SDC) and Bland Altman limits of agreement.
Results:
Burn scar images from 55 adult participants were included. Intra-rater reliability was acceptable using an immediate retest interval (maximum and minimum height ICC=0.85, 0.86 respectively). Agreement using an immediate retest interval was borderline acceptable (maximum and minimum height SDC=1.11, 0.69 respectively) to detect changes of close to 1 mm. Reproducibility was largely not acceptable using a 1-2 week test-retest interval (eg, maximum and minimum height ICC=0.34, 0.68 respectively; maximum and minimum height SDC=2.66, 1.16). The clinical utility of the camera was supported for scars over relatively flat areas and well-defined border margins. A protocol for administration of the camera was developed.
Conclusion:
The 3D camera appears capable of detecting gross changes or differences in scar height above the normal skin surface, in adults with scars over relatively flat areas and well-defined border margins. However, further testing of reproducibility using a shorter test-retest interval than 1-2 week retest is recommended to confirm the suitability of the device for measuring changes or differences in scar height.
