Longitudinal Three-Dimensional Stereophotogrammetric Growth Analysis in Infants with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate from 3 to 12 Months of Age

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jennifer Kluge - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Robin Bruggink - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Nikolaos Pandis - , University of Bern (Author)
  • Alexey Unkovskiy - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Author)
  • Paul Georg Jost-Brinkmann - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman - , University of Bern, University of Groningen, University of Indonesia (Author)
  • Theodosia Bartzela - , Department of Orthodontics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)

Abstract

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate facial growth and soft tissue changes in infants with complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate (CUCLAP) at ages 3, 9, and 12 months. Using 3D images of 22 CUCLAP infants, average faces and distance maps for the entire face and specific regions were created. Color-coded maps highlighted more significant soft tissue changes from 3 to 9 months than from 9 to 12 months. The first interval showed substantial growth in the entire face, particularly in the forehead, eyes, lower lip, chin, and cheeks (p < 0.001), while the second interval exhibited no significant growth. This study provides insights into facial soft tissue growth in CUCLAP infants during critical developmental stages, emphasizing substantial improvements between 3 and 9 months, mainly in the chin, lower lip, and forehead. However, uneven growth occurred in the upper lip, philtrum, and nostrils throughout both intervals, with an overall decline in growth from 9 to 12 months. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of soft tissue growth in CUCLAP patients, highlighting the need to consider these patterns in treatment planning. Future research should explore the underlying factors and develop customized treatment interventions for enhanced facial aesthetics and function in this population.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number6432
JournalJournal of clinical medicine
Volume12
Issue number20
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • cleft lip and palate, facial growth, infants, stereophotogrammetry, three-dimensional