Abstract
Introduction and aim: Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a congenital complex of extremely variable phenotypes. Typically, unilaterally aff ected structures are facial structures developing from the fi rst and second branchial arches and fi rst pharyngeal pouch and fi rst branchial cleft and the basis of temporal bone.
The aim is to introduce the clinical conditions of the disease whose facial asymmetry is accompanied by a number of functional disorders. Moreover, it presents non-invasive 3D morphometry, that enables evaluation of the morphological deviation of the aff ected area.
Methods: An accurate geometric 3D image of the patient's face was created by the optical method - stereophotogrammetry in six patients (age from 6 to 15; 5 , 1 ) with OAVS. Using the construction of dense correspondence mapping by CPD-DCA (coherent point drift - dense correspondence analysis) method between facial meshes, model registration were performed.
A perfectly symmetrical face was constructed for each patient. The diff erences between the constructed symmetrical face and the real patient's face were shown using a color map.
The individual asymmetry thus displayed was quantitatively processed and analyzed over a period of nine to 23 months. Results: Only minor differences in facial asymmetry of OAVS patients have been demonstrated, suggesting an insignificant dynamics in the development of facial malformations in patients with this disease.
We did not find a dependence between face relief changes and patient age during the reference period. There was also no correlation between the severity of the defect and the development of asymmetry.
Conclusion: Significant worsening of facial morphology in growing OAVS patients has not been confirmed as supposed. That allows satisfactory compensation of defects by early orthodontic treatment.
Non-invasive 3D morphometric facial scanning is an optimal method for monitoring the development of facial asymmetries.