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A Concise and Accurate Method for Evaluating Alveolar Cleft ReconstructionDiet al Concise and Accurate Method for
Wenjun Di1, Kongying Li, Mengmeng Zhang
1Center for Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|August 7, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a fast and accurate 3D imaging method to assess bone volume after alveolar cleft repair. The technique ensures reliable evaluation of newly formed bone, benefiting patients with cleft lip and palate.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial surgery
- Biomedical imaging
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Alveolar cleft treatment remains a challenge, necessitating improved assessment tools.
- Accurate pre- and postoperative evaluation is vital for optimizing outcomes in cleft lip and palate patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a precise and efficient method for evaluating newly formed bone volume after alveolar bone grafting.
- To establish a reliable tool for postoperative assessment in alveolar cleft treatment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized helical computed tomography (CT) datasets from 20 patients undergoing alveolar bone grafting.
- Developed a 3D model of newly formed bone using Boolean operations on registered pre- and postoperative cranial images in MIMICS software.
- Two observers independently measured bone volume twice, one year postoperatively, with results validated by layer-by-layer CT image comparison.
Main Results:
- The mean newly formed bone ratio was 39.81%±17.96%.
- Average processing time for volume assessment was 5 minutes and 11 seconds (±1 minute 41 seconds).
- Intraclass correlation coefficient for bone volume measurements was 0.999, indicating excellent inter-observer reliability.
Conclusions:
- The developed method is accurate, time-efficient, and highly reliable for evaluating postoperative bone formation in alveolar clefts.
- This technique offers a significant advancement for assessing treatment efficacy and guiding future research in alveolar cleft repair.
