A monocenter, patient-blinded, randomized, parallel-group, non-inferiority study to compare cochlear implant receiver/stimulator device fixation techniques (COMFIT) with and without drilling in adults eligible for primary cochlear implantation.

Background: During the cochlear implantation procedure, the receiver/stimulator (R/S) part of the implant is fixated to prevent postoperative device migration, which could have an adverse effect on the position of the electrode array in the cochlea. We aim to compare the migration rates of two fixation techniques, the bony recess versus the subperiosteal tight pocket without bony sutures.

Methods And Analysis: This single-blind randomized controlled trial will recruit a total of 112 primary cochlear implantation adult patients, eligible for implantation according to the current standard of practice.

Automatic grading of patients with a unilateral facial paralysis based on the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System - A deep learning study based on a convolutional neural network.

Purpose: In order to assess the severity and the progression of a unilateral peripheral facial palsy the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) is a well-established grading system due to its clinical relevance, sensitivity, and robust measuring method. However, training is required in order to achieve a high inter-rater reliability. This study investigated the automated grading of facial palsy patients based on the SFGS using a convolutional neural network.

Creating Three-Dimensional Templates of Smiling and Pouting Faces for Different Sex- and Age Groups.

Smile appearance has a major psychological impact. Orthognathic surgery, which has harmonizing results on skeletal structures, can negatively influence the smile appearance due to soft tissue effects. To enhance the aesthetic effects of orthognathic surgery on soft tissues, reference models for large parts of the hospital’s adherent area are called for.

Cochlear implant positioning and fixation using 3D-printed patient specific surgical guides; a cadaveric study.

Hypothesis: To develop and validate the optimal design and evaluate accuracy of individualized 3D- printed surgical guides for cochlear implantation.

Background: Positioning and fixation of the cochlear implant (CI) are commonly performed free hand. Applications of 3-dimensional (3D) technology now allow us to make patient specific, bone supported surgical guides, to aid CI surgeons with precise placement and drilling out the bony well which accommodates the receiver/stimulator device of the CI.

A Novel and Practical Protocol for Three-Dimensional Assessment of Alveolar Cleft Grafting Procedures.

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of a new, easy-to-use volumetric assessment of the alveolar cleft.

Design: Twelve cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) datasets of patients with a unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate were evaluated by two investigators. Residual alveolar cleft calcified volume one year after surgery was analyzed by using standardized landmarks to determine the borders of the cleft defect and semi-automatically segment the alveolar cleft defect.

Reliability and Agreement of 3D Anthropometric Measurements in Facial Palsy Patients Using a Low-Cost 4D Imaging System.

The reliability (precision) and agreement (accuracy) of anthropometric measurements based on manually placed 3D landmarks using the RealSense D415 were investigated in this paper. Thirty facial palsy patients, with their face in neutral (resting) position, were recorded simultaneously with the RealSense and a professional 3dMD imaging system. First the RealSense depth accuracy was determined.

Depth accuracy of the RealSense F200: Low-cost 4D facial imaging.

The RealSense F200 represents a new generation of economically viable 4-dimensional imaging (4D) systems for home use. However, its 3D geometric (depth) accuracy has not been clinically tested. Therefore, this study determined the depth accuracy of the RealSense, in a cohort of patients with a unilateral facial palsy (n = 34), by using the clinically validated 3dMD system as a gold standard.