Computer aided monitoring of bone quality and new bone formation upon distractive maxillary expansion based on pre- and post-surgical CT-data

Abstract

Within a clinical study, 30 pre- and post-operative CT-data sets were acquired directly before and 6 - 11 weeks after surgical maxillary expansion. The pre- operative data were rigidly registered on the post-operative ones. Subsequent 3D-reconstruction showed the skeletal changes due to the surgery. By an approach developed in the group, new bone formation in the osteotomy gap could be visualized. New bone could be clearly differentiated from preexistent bone. New bone formation was non-uniform along the osteotomy lines, but approximately symmetric. The more symmetrical the osteotomy was performed, the more symmetrical bone formation was observed. Actual research is dedicated to the patterns of new bone formation with regard to the applied surgical device and technique. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.