Validation of the Vectra H1 portable three-dimensional photogrammetry system for facial imaging

Three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging using stereophotogrammetry has become increasingly popular in clinical settings, offering advantages for surgical planning and outcome evaluation. The handheld Vectra H1 is a low-cost, highly portable system that offers several advantages over larger stationary cameras, but independent technical validation is currently lacking. In this study, 3D facial images of 26 adult participants were captured with the Vectra H1 system and the previously validated 3dMDface system. Using error magnitude statistics, 136 linear distances were compared between cameras. In addition, 3D facial surfaces from each system were registered, heat maps generated, and global root mean square (RMS) error calculated. The 136 distances were highly comparable across the two cameras, with an average technical error of measurement (TEM) value of 0.84 mm (range 0.19–1.54 mm). The average RMS value of the 26 surface-to-surface comparisons was 0.43 mm (range 0.33–0.59 mm). In each case, the vast majority of the facial surface differences were within a ±1 mm threshold. Areas exceeding ±1 mm were generally limited to facial regions containing hair or subject to facial microexpressions. These results indicate that 3D facial surface images acquired with the Vectra H1 system are sufficiently accurate for most clinical applications.