Introduction of a three-dimensional anthropometry of the viscerocranium. Part II: evaluating osseous and soft tissue changes following orthognathic surgery.

Background And Objective: Anthropometric measurements, described and assessed in Part I of this article were applied in dysgnathic patients. Diagnosis, surgical planning and follow-up were performed and soft tissue ratios quantified.

Material And Methods: One hundred and seventy-five anthropometric measurements and 146 cephalograms of 100 patients were included. Forty-five patients were analysed before and after surgery. Ten randomly selected patients were re-measured directly by two investigators for reliability and validity assessment.

Results: Manoeuvres that expanded the facial skeleton such as maxillary or mandibular advancements or maxillary elongations generally had a greater soft tissue impact than setbacks or maxillary impactions. A 1.4% intra-observer and a 2.6% inter-observer error was apparent with anthropometry. Concordance of anthropometry with roentgenocephalometry (p<0.04) was found by paired t -test.

Conclusion: The anthropometry allowed reliable and objective, independent calculation of cranial bone relations and soft tissue projection. It is also sensitive to facial asymmetry. Easy application, versatility and an economic price for the assessment of facial proportions, soft tissue ratios, operation planning and follow-up were obvious.