Longitudinal Follow-up of Individuals With Cleft Lip Using Three-Dimensional Stereophotogrammetry

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry is valuable for cleft lip (CL) treatment.
• Reliable anthropometric analyses in infants with CL are limited due to difficulties in achieving a resting facial position.
• A handheld 3D imaging system has been utilized since 2014 for capturing images of infants with CL and palate under general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a longitudinal database of 3D facial images for infants with cleft lip and palate.
• To facilitate future retrospective studies comparing surgical techniques and long-term outcomes.
• To provide a preliminary report on the initial 2 years of a 20-year study.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a handheld 3D imaging system in the operating room for infants under general anesthesia.
• Collecting 3D images from 168 infants with unilateral cleft, 50 with bilateral clefts, and 47 with isolated cleft palate.
• Following patients up to 30 months, with plans to continue into adulthood and expand the cohort annually.

Main Results:

• The study has successfully enrolled 265 infants with various cleft conditions.
• A significant portion of patients aged 3 years and older are cooperative for 3D imaging without sedation.
• A substantial digital image archive is being created for future research.

Conclusions:

• The implemented 3D imaging protocol provides a feasible method for longitudinal data collection in infants with clefts.
• The ongoing study is building a valuable resource for understanding the long-term effects of interventions.
• This preliminary report highlights the potential of 3D stereophotogrammetry in advancing cleft care research.