Changes in facial soft tissue asymmetry in Class II patients after orthognathic surgery

ISRCTN ISRCTN14166937
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14166937
Submission date
10/05/2024
Registration date
13/05/2024
Last edited
23/04/2025
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
The appearance of the face is an important factor for humans, which affects self-esteem and has psychological and social effects. Even a slight asymmetry following surgery may not satisfy the patient, due to increasing demands on facial appearance. Previous reports on soft tissue changes and long-term follow-up after jaw surgery are limited.
The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in facial soft tissue asymmetry over time after jaw surgery in Class II malocclusion patients using 3D imaging. The goal is to find how the asymmetry of facial soft tissue changes at 12 months after surgery and long-term changes after 3-5 years. The study's findings should help to inform patients more precisely about the possible changes in facial soft tissues after the surgery.

Who can participate?
Adults over the age of 20 years with skeletal Class II malocclusion (where the upper teeth are too far forward compared to the lower teeth)

What does the study involve?
Participants will undergo their scheduled orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery between 2011 and 2021. They will additionally have 3D facial images taken at several timepoints: before surgery, 3-6 months, 9-12 months, 18 months, 2 years and 3-5 years after orthognathic surgery.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits to participants but the study will hopefully provide benefits to future patients, who can be better informed and manage expectations. There is no additional risk to those taking part in the study because 3D facial images are not invasive.

Where is the study run from?
Institute of Stomatology of the Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2011 to March 2024

Who is funding the study?
Institute of Stomatology of the Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Andris Ābeltiņš, Andris.Abeltins@rsu.lv

Contact information

Prof Andris Abeltins
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

Dzirciema iela 20
Riga
LV-1007
Latvia

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-3983-315X
Phone +371 (0)29556417
Email andris.abeltins@rsu.lv
Dr Edmonda Nike
Scientific

Dzirciema iela 20
Riga
LV-1007
Latvia

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-0392-0078
Phone +371 (0)29556417
Email edmonda.nike@rsu.lv

Study information

Study designProspective longitudinal cohort study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeDiagnostic, Quality of life, Treatment
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleChanges in facial soft tissue asymmetry in Class II patients after orthognathic surgery using three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry
Study hypothesis1. The asymmetry of the facial soft tissues in patients with skeletal class II decreases after orthognathic surgery.
2. Patients with greater facial soft tissue asymmetry before surgery have a higher risk of facial soft tissue relapse in the long term (after surgery).

All faces are asymmetric to some degree. This is a particular interest when evaluating orthognathic surgery (OGS) outcomes. With orthognathic patients, surgery is principally conducted to reduce asymmetry, but there is also the possibility that surgery may inadvertently increase it (Vittert et al., 2018). Soft tissue response after surgery and symmetry are only partially predictable and have tremendous individual variation response, especially in the maxillary and midfacial region (Gill et al., 2017).

Facial soft tissue asymmetric changes in the long term will be assessed for Class II and III malocclusion patients after orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery. Three-dimensional photographs of all patients were recorded and the position of 21 landmarks was evaluated at six timepoints: before surgery (T0), 3-6 months (T1), 9-12 months (T2), 18 months (T4), 2 years (T5) and 3-5 years (T6) after orthognathic surgery.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 26/04/2012, Ethics Committee of the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) (Dzirciema Street 16, Riga, LV-1007, Latvia; +371 (0)67409101; pek@rsu.lv), ref: E-9 (2)

ConditionOrthognathic surgery
InterventionThe cohort will be recruited from patients treated at the Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Stomatology of the Rīga Stradiņš University.

The mean follow-up for these patients is at least 36 months. All patients receive orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery. Images for all of the involved patients are acquired using the 3dMDtrio (3dMD, Atlanta, GA) stereophotogrammetric system to assess facial soft tissue dimensions. Three-dimensional photographs of all patients are recorded before surgery (T0) and at 6 months (T1), 12 months (T2), 18 months (T3), 2 years (T4) and 3-5 years (T5) after surgery. The acquired images are loaded to the 3dMDvultus, version 2.5.0.1. Program (3dMD, LLC) and are analysed from all angles in three coordinates: x, y and z. The 21
anthropometric landmarks are digitally marked on each 3D facial surface at all timepoints. Further, the quantitative determination of facial asymmetry is performed with 3D data from each patient with a mirroring approach. All images of each patient are superimposed with their reflecting surfaces on stable anatomical surfaces. The program automatically measures the shortest distance between the original and mirrored surfaces and landmarks, using the 3D coordinates. The surface-based method is used.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureAsymmetric changes in soft-tissue evaluated using the three-dimensional 3dMDtrio (3dMD, Atlanta, GA) stereophotogrammetric system before surgery (T0), 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2), 18 months (T3), 2 years (T4) and 3-5 years (T5) after surgery
Secondary outcome measures1. Changes in facial asymmetry compared between the following demographics using the three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric system before surgery (T0), 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2), 18 months (T3), 2 years (T4) and 3-5 years (T5) after surgery:
1.1. Time of image collection
1.2. Gender (male/female)
1.3. Type of surgery (single jaw, LeFort I/both jaw, bimaxillary)
1.4. Facial region groups
1.5. Comparing Class II and Class III patients in the long term
Overall study start date21/11/2011
Overall study end date11/03/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit22 Years
Upper age limit60 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants55
Total final enrolment75
Participant inclusion criteria1. Presence of skeletal Class II malocclusion
2. No history of trauma or maxillofacial surgery, or recognized craniofacial syndromes as etiologic factors
3. No active growth at the time of surgery
4. Received preoperative and post-operative orthodontic treatment
5. Underwent a single or both jaw surgeries during the time period of 2011- 2021 at the
Department of the Orthodontics, Institute of Stomatology of the Rīga Stradiņš University
6. All 3D facial images for all timepoints collected
7. Aged ≥22 years
Participant exclusion criteria1. Cleft or other craniofacial anomalies or syndromes
2. Beards and/or mustaches at any timepoint
3. One of the 3D images was defective (for example, the head was moved during image capture, resulting in duplication of the image)
Recruitment start date03/07/2012
Recruitment end date10/12/2021

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Latvia

Study participating centre

Institute of Stomatology of the Rīga Stradiņš University
Department of the Orthodontics
Dzirciema iela 20
Riga
LV- 1007
Latvia

Sponsor information

Riga Stradiņš University
University/education

Institute of Stomatology
Dzirciema iela 20
Riga
LV-1007
Latvia

Phone +371 (0)29556417
Email andris.abeltins@rsu.lv
Website http://www.rsu.lv/eng/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03nadks56

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte
Government organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
Rīga Stradiņš University, Rīga Stradiņš University, Universitas Rigensis Stradina, Riga Medical Institute, Medical Academy of Latvia, RSU
Location
Latvia

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date05/10/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 23/04/2025 23/04/2025 Yes No

Editorial Notes

23/04/2025: Publication reference added.
06/11/2024: The following changes were made:
1. The public title was changed from "Evaluation of facial soft tissue asymmetric changes in patients after jaw surgery".
2. The scientific title was changed from "Evaluation of facial soft tissue asymmetric changes in Class II and Class III patients after orthognathic surgery using three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry".
13/05/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the Ethics Committee of the Rīga Stradiņš University.