| The auricle is one of the five primary features of human's face, and is particularly influential in determining the appearance of the human face. The defect of auricles will not only lead to destruction of the facial appearance, but also affected patient's daily communication, and even caused serious psychological problems. The auricle defects are divided into two categories: the entire defects and the partial defects. Due to small areas, the partial defects is suitable to utilize surgical restoration. Owing to displeasure of surgery, the entire defects is good candidate for prosthetics restoration solution. At present, there are two ways to make the auricle prosthetics: traditional handmade methods and Computer aided design & computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) approach. The traditional methods involve the following steps: facial impression, measurement location, sculpture and other technical procedure. Many factors may affect the restoration results: auricle engraving technology, artistic level and experience, and so on. CAD/CAM approach involve CT scan, three-dimensional reconstruction, auricle mirror design, rapid prototyping. However, CT scan produces radiation hazards, as well as additional cost of treatment, which patients may not accept. This study was to establish a auricular three-dimensional morphological database, in order to provide a large number of the original auricle samples. The adverse effects of CT scanning could be avoided.Morphology of the auricle is very complex, and could not be scanned by laser or 3DSS scanner to fulfill data collection. CT or MRI is the best way to obtain three-dimensional morphological data for auricles. CT is more readily available than MRI. Some studies have shown that the CT reconstruction data was qualified to make auricle prosthesis. We utilized computer-related software to compile database software platform and studied database applications. Followings are the results:1. 1523 coronal CT cases were collected from four main general hospitals in our area, and 1000 qualified data were selected. We uploarded all of the data into the MIMICS software and removed excess regions through the sagittal plane, horizontal and coronal plane. Then we reconstructed auricles soft tissue, separated auricles and obtained 880 auricles data finally.2. The data was imported into Geomagic software and carried out morphological measurement and analysis. According to measurement results and literature, the auricle was divided into five criteria in our study. Moreover, there are subtypes were supplied for each criterion. Therefore, the auricle could be distributed to different sub-libraries.3. Auricular three-dimensional morphological database was established by CT scan image for the first time in China. The component of the database was built which included three main parts: programming of the database program, database management and storage, the database STL editing. Three software (Access, VC++, and OpenGL) were applied to finish the database software system. According to classification standards of auricles, the data was imported into the database. The information for every data (nationality, age and sex) was imported with the data.4. Types of the selected auricle were divided and included the database software platform. Then, we selected the analogous auricle from the database. The analogous auricle was imported into Geomagic software. Eventually, we utilized the special function of Geomagic software to prune the auricle, and obtained the optimal data model.5. Few of the anthropometric data showed significant bilateral differences in auricular dimensions. The height of the tragus, lobular length, lobular width, conchal width, protrusion at tragal level, and inclination angle of auricles showed no significant differences between males and females. All of the linear dimensions of auricles, except the height of the tragus, conchal length and width, increased with age for both males and females. |
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