Prediction of frontal soft tissue changes after mandibular surgery in facial asymmetry individuals

Objective: To aid the development of a frontal image simulating program, we evaluated the soft tissue frontal changes in relationship to movement of hard tissue with orthognathic surgery of facial asymmetry patients. Methods: Preoperative and postoperative frontal cephalograms and frontal view photographs of 45 mandibular surgery patients with facial asymmetry were obtained in a standardized manner. Vertical and horizontal changes of hard tissue and soft tissue were measured from cephalograms and photographs, respectively. Soft tissue change in result to hard tissue change was then analyzed. Results: Both vertical and horizontal correlation analysis showed a weak relationship between the changes. Hard tissue points that were picked for 1 : 1 mean ratio with soft tissue points did not show any significant relevance. For each soft tissue change, regressive equation was formulated by stepwise multiple regression analysis, and the equation for soft tissue Menton was most reliable in predicting changes. Both vertical and horizontal hard tissue changes were used together in prediction of vertical or horizontal soft tissue change. Conclusions: The results suggest that computerized image simulation using regression analysis may be of help for prediction of soft tissue change, while 1 : 1 mean ratio method is not useful.