Statistical Analysis of Midface Correction Treatment using Automated Image Analysis

Computer assisted planning of jaw surgery has been focused on hard tissue such as jaw bones and teeth, but the changes in the soft tissues that cover the repositioned jaw bones and teeth vary among individuals and have been left to the empirical decisions of the surgeons with prediction. We have demonstrated the effect of automated image evaluation that can measure the shape changes in soft tissues of midface regions. In this report, we picked the case of upper jaw (maxilla) movement of maxilla deficiency (Class III) and visualized the changes in the soft tissue with two jaw surgery conditions. One contains sliding genioplasty for chin reposition, whereas the other without it. And, the effects of the amount and the direction of maxilla movement including front teeth angle have also been analyzed using the proposed image analysis method. Quantitative analyses using the simple measurement on soft tissues of the proposed method support the observation in the results of those surgeries and clarified how the maxilla moved when cheek got bulge after surgery on Class III.