Craniofacial Growth and Asymmetry in Newborns: A Longitudinal 3D Assessment

Ai-Lun Lo, Rami R. Hallac, Shih-Heng Chen, Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Sheng-Wei Wang, Chih-Hao Chen, Rei-Yin Lien, Lun-Jou Lo and Pang-Yun Chou ()
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Ai-Lun Lo: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Rami R. Hallac: Analytical Imaging and Modeling Center, Children’s Health Dallas, UTSW Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
Shih-Heng Chen: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Kai-Hsiang Hsu: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 33302, Taiwan
Sheng-Wei Wang: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
Chih-Hao Chen: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Rei-Yin Lien: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 33302, Taiwan
Lun-Jou Lo: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Pang-Yun Chou: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the development of the craniofacial region in healthy infants and analyze the asymmetry pattern in the first year of life. Methods: The participants were grouped by sex and age (1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months) to receive three-dimensional (3D) photographs. Stereoscopic craniofacial photos were captured and transformed into a series of craniofacial meshes in each group. The growth patterns of the anthropometric indices and the degree of craniofacial asymmetry were measured, and average craniofacial meshes and color-asymmetry maps with craniofacial asymmetry scores were calculated. Results: A total of 373 photographs from 66 infants were obtained. In both genders, the highest and lowest growth rates for all anthropometric indices were noted between 1 and 2 months and between 9 and 12 months, respectively. Overall, male infants had higher anthropometric indices, head volume, and head circumference than female infants. The craniofacial asymmetry score was presented with a descending pattern from 1 to 12 months of age in both sex groups. Both sex groups showed decreased left-sided laterality in the temporal-parietal-occipital region between 1 and 4 months of age and increased right frontal-temporal prominence between 6 and 12 months of age. Conclusions: A longitudinal evaluation of the craniofacial growth of healthy infants during their first year of life was presented.

Keywords: longitudinal assessment; 3D image; newborns; craniofacial morphology; head volume; growth chart; color-asymmetry maps; craniofacial growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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