Contour analysis in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Three-dimensional measurements of living objects may be made using various biostereometric techniques. Moire topography provides one-step contour line maps. It is a potential low-cost adjuvant to current photographic and cephalometric techniques for documentation of surface deformities. A relatively simple apparatus may be used with instant-processing film to produce immediate contour maps superimposed on the object image on the film. There is significant qualitative information highlighted by the fine resolution of the system. This immediate had data may be quantitatively analyzed by hand with ruler and/or caliper. In the future, off-line quantitative analysis may be made by computer. Geometric constraints of the system and examples of use of the technique are provided. Emphasis is placed on facial asymmetries that are difficult to analyze from plain photographs and inaccessible to data analysis from lateral cephalometric roentgenographs.