3D Stereophotogrammetric assessment of pre- and postoperative volumetric changes in the cleft lip and palate nose

In cleft hp and palate patients the shape of the nose invariably changes in three dimensions (3D) clue to rhinoplastic surgery The purpose of this study was to evaluate stereophotogrammetry as a 3D method to document volumetric changes of the nose in patients with a cleft hp (CL) or cleft lip and palate (CLP) after secondary open rhinoplasty 12 patients with unilateral CL or CLP were enrolled in the study prospectively 3D facial images were acquired using 3D stereophotogrammetry preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively A 3D cephalometric analysis of the nose was performed and volumetric data were acquired The reliability of the method was tested by performing an intra- and inter-observer analysis Left; right and total nasal volumes and symmetry were compared No statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found within and between observers for the measured volumes and symmetry Postoperatively, the total volume of the nose increased significantly, especially the volume at the cleft side No significant volume difference pre- and postoperatively was found for the non-cleft side The symmetry of the nose improved significantly 3D stereophotogrammetry is a sensitive, quick, non-invasive method for evaluating volumetric changes of the nose in patients with cleft hp or cleft hp and palate