Applications of Volume Determination and Three-Dimensional Imaging

Abstract

Three-dimensional imaging techniques can now provide physicians with fascinating pre- and postoperative reproductions of skeletal and soft tissue anatomy. Nevertheless, experienced surgeons question the true value of these images, feeling they do not add significantly to their clinical examination or operative planning. More promising is the ability to measure selected volumes of the craniofacial skeleton noninvasively. In particular, this technology allows the determination of such important clinical parameters as orbital and bone graft volumes. Although the correction of posttraumatic orbital deformities, such as enophthal-mos, requires an operative change in orbital volume, guidelines for treatment have been mostly qualitative. Similarly, there has been no quantitative relationship established between orbital wall advancements in procedures for correction of craniofacial dysostoses and the resultant change in orbital volume.