Reliability of the Linear Measurement (Contact) Method Compared with Stereophotogrammetry (Optical Scanning) for the Evaluation of Edema after Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion

Abstract

Many techniques have been developed to evaluate facial swelling after maxillofacial surgeries. Patients who undergo surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) develop facial edema more often than those who undergo minor oral surgeries. Reliable systems to assess soft tissue dimensions offer many advantages for documentation and treatment planning across surgical fields. (1) Background: The objective assessment of facial swelling is advantageous as it allows the evaluation of the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the reliabilities of linear measurement method and optical scanning for the objective assessment of facial swelling after SARME. (2) Methods: Sixteen (12 women and 4 men) patients were enrolled. Linear measurements between guide points and facial scans were obtained for the left and right sides preoperatively and 1, 2, and 5 days after SARME. Preoperative values were subtracted from each post-operative value and the differences were compared between the two measurement methods. (3) Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the right and left sides at any time point in the measurements with either method. (4) Conclusions: Recently, stereophotogrammetry has been considered the first choice method for evaluating facial swelling. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between volumetric analysis and linear measurement at all time points and for both sides.

Novel Digital Measurement Technique to Analyze the Palatine Suture Expansion after Palatine Rapid Maxillary Expansion Technique

“…All these data highlight the great controversy that exists regarding the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects that occur after RME procedures; therefore, it is mandatory to create a repeatability and reproducibility measurement procedure to unify the methodological design of the research. Therefore, Koçer et al conclude that volumetric measurements can be applied and combined with linear measurements to obtain a direct clinical application in the diagnosis of oedema caused by RME procedures to improve the treatment outcome and prognosis [38].…”

Evaluation of edema formation and salivary EGF related to 810 nm diode laser and conventional surgery after frenectomy

“…17,18 The 3D face-scanning method has been reported to be a fast and reproducible measurement method, 17 and has been evaluated as an alternative to the tape measurement method. 19 Disadvantage of the 3D scanning method is time-consuming, expensive and requires expertise. 17,20,21 An easy-to-apply and reproducible measurement method is needed.…”

Reliability of 3D Stereophotogrammetry for Measuring Postoperative Facial Swelling

“…Although a rapid reduction in swelling is common, assessment and quantification in the early period is clinically relevant and beneficial for research purposes [ 1 , 2 ]. The extent and duration of postoperative swelling provides information to accurately administer and monitor steroidal or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to accelerate the reduction of swelling [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. Other methods to prevent and reduce postoperative swelling are cooling, Kinesio taping, manual lymphatic drainage, and low-level laser therapy, mostly recommended for optimal patient comfort [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Gold-standard tape measurements are inexpensive, simple, and non-invasive. However, this technique has been replaced by newer non-contact methods, such as optical three-dimensional (3D) scanners [ 3 ]. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry has increasingly been used in orthognathic surgery planning and evaluation.…”

“…Application of 3D stereophotogrammetry in predicting postoperative facial appearance after Le Fort I osteotomy presented acceptable reproducibility, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.87 to 0.99 [ 12 ]. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry volumetric analysis strongly correlated with tape measurements for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME), with correlations varying from 0.98 to 0.99 [ 3 ]. Both studies focused on edema in the midface, while postoperative swelling after orthognathic surgery mostly occurs in all areas of the face and neck.…”