Accuracy of Soft Tissue Prediction of 2 Virtual Planning Systems in Patients Undergoing Intraoral Quadrangular Le Fort II Osteotomy

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) is state of the art in routine clinical work. Visualization of soft tissue changes adds important information for surgical planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of soft tissue prediction of 2 VSP systems in patients undergoing an intraoral quadrangular Le Fort II osteotomy. METHODS: VSP was performed with the software application IPS Case Designer (IPS) and Dolphin Imaging 11.95 (DOL) in bone and soft tissue structure. Distances were measured at the 3 levels of the face at the infraorbital rim, the sinus floor, and the lateral incisor level with 2 VSP systems (DOL and IPS). RESULTS: A convenience sample of 19 patients was included in the study with a mean age of 21.9 years. From cranial to caudal, mean differences between simulation and postintervention data were as follows: infraorbital rim level: DOL and ST0: mean difference: 2.90 mm; IPS and ST0: 1.70 mm; sinus floor level: DOL and ST0: mean difference: 3.57 mm; IPS and ST0: 1.34 mm; and lateral incisor level: DOL and ST0: mean difference: 2.48 mm; IPS and ST0: 2.25 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, both VSP systems are suitable for planning an intraoral quadrangular Le Fort II osteotomy. Especially in the infraorbital region, improvement of the algorithm is required for trustworthy prediction of soft tissue changes.