Tj. Coward et al., LASER-SCANNING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF REPEATABLE LANDMARKS OF THE EARS AND FACE, British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 50(5), 1997, pp. 308-314
Objective: To determine whether or not landmarks of the ears and face
could be reliably identified using a laser scanning system. Design: A
single centre study with two assessors jointly agreeing the siting of
the landmarks on the ear on two separate occasions from an original la
ser scanned image. Setting: University based research study in London,
UK. Subjects: 20 subjects, 11 males, 9 females, aged 16-24 years with
normal facial development. Main outcome measures: Differences were de
termined between the locations of landmarks on the two occasions studi
ed. Differences were assessed for the x, y and z co-ordinates of each
point. Results: The mean difference between the two sitings of 21 land
marks ranged between 0 and 0.85 mm in the x, y and z axes. With a smal
l number of exceptions, the differences were not statistically signifi
cant. The three-dimensional mean differences between the two sitings o
f each landmark ranged between 1 and 2.5 mm. Coefficients of repeatabi
lity ranged between 1.6 and 7.0 mm. Conclusions: Landmarks of the ears
and face from a laser scanned image can be sited consistently by two
assessors. Since the landmarks can be located it should be possible to
evaluate dimensional measurements of the ear and its position on the
face.