Quality and Reliability of 2D and 3D Clinical Photographs in Plastic Surgery: A Scoping Review.

[BACKGROUND] Clinical photography is a critical tool in plastic surgery practice. The primary aim of this scoping review was to assess the quality and reliability of various 2D and 3D photography modalities in plastic surgery.

[METHODS] The databases, MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase via Elsevier, and Scopus via Elsevier, were searched from inception to March 15, 2023, for any papers focused on evaluation of quality and/or reliability of photography in plastic surgery-related applications. Data regarding general article characteristics, study characteristics, participants, and study results were extracted by two reviewers and qualitatively synthesized.

[RESULTS] A total of 17 studies published from 1999 to 2023 were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis. Thirteen (76.5%) were cross-sectional and four (23.5%) were cohort studies. Photographed locations included craniomaxillofacial and oral (n = 11, 64.7%), scars (n = 3, 17.6%), breast and torso (n = 2, 11.8%), and wounds (n = 1, 5.9%). Assessed photographic modalities were found to be on par or better than comparators in almost all applicable cases (n = 13/14, 92.9%).

[CONCLUSIONS] Multiple photographic modalities were found to have adequate quality and reliability. 3D photography was found to be a superior imaging modality for craniomaxillofacial and oral applications. For scar and wound assessment and images of the breast and torso region, 2D photography was sufficient. Overall, 2D photography using smartphone devices is sufficient for reliable and quality images in most clinical settings. With continued advances in technology, the ability to capture clinical images will undoubtedly improve, and there is a need for future studies to assess and compare these modalities.

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