Measurement using a non-contact 3-D measurement system and histopathologic study of surface of skin scar formation after cheiloplasty

Abstract

As to postoperative scar formation of maxillofacial lesions, a number of authors have reported on the clinical classification and light or electron microscopic observations of hypertrophic scars. However, there has been no quantitative study to evaluate the surface of the postoperative scar and its relevance to changes in histopathology. The purpose of this study was to assess postoperative scar formation on patients with cleft lip quantitatively by using a non-contact 3-D measurement system and to compare the findings with the histopathologic changes. Thirty-six specimens were obtained from patients when they underwent corrective surgery of the lip. The depth of the scar was measured by using a non-contact 3-D measurement system. The results were compared with morphological findings of fibroblasts and collagen fibers of the scar tissues under a light microscope. The results were following as follows: 1. The depth of the CLP group was 181.4 +/- 78.4 microns, significantly higher than 55.7 +/- 24.8 microns of the non-cleft group (p < 0.05). 2. Histologically, the scar, which formed a diffuse mass of irregularly arranged thick collagen fibers, showed a higher value in the depth of the scar than the one which formed a regular pattern. 3. The scar with mature spindle fibroblasts showed a higher value in the depth of the scar than the one with immature round fibroblasts. In conclusion, it was suggested that a non-contact 3-D measurement system is useful for measuring the depth of the scar surface, and the histologic changes of the scar influence the depth.