Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate 3-dimensional (3-D) photogrammetry as a tool for assessing the postoperative head shape of patients who had undergone cranial vault remodeling for metopic synostosis.
Design:
We prospectively analyzed images of patients with metopic craniosynostosis who had undergone anterior cranial vault remodeling and age-matched controls. To ensure standardized facial orientation, each 3-D image was positioned to “best fit” the preoperative face by aligning 6 soft tissue landmarks. Forehead measurements were taken from a standardized position behind the surface of the face to landmarks placed in a ray configuration across the forehead.
Setting:
Academic teaching hospital.
Patients, Participants:
Thirteen pediatric patients with metopic craniosynostosis who had undergone anterior cranial vault remodeling and age-matched controls.
Interventions:
Images were taken preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and over 1-year postoperatively.
Main Outcome Measures:
Forehead contours preoperatively and postoperatively, with statistics performed using a multivariate analysis of variance shape analysis.
Results:
Mean postoperative follow-up was 1.8 (0.6) years. The average distance from the origin to forehead landmarks was 55.1 (3.4) mm preoperatively, 59.3 (0.7) mm immediate postoperatively, 59.1 (1.0) mm 1-year postoperatively, and 59.4 (0.6) mm in controls. Postoperative metopic forehead contours varied significantly from preoperative contours (P < .01), while there was no statistical difference between the 2 postoperative time points (P = .70). One-year postoperative patients were not significantly different from their age-matched controls (P > .99).
Conclusions:
Preoperative metopic forehead contours varied significantly from postoperative contours. Cranial reconstructions approximated the foreheads of normal controls, and reconstructions were stable at more than 1-year follow-up.
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