Assessment of the reliability of digital cephalometric analysis using One Ceph app in comparison with manual cephalometric analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the accuracy and reliability of digital cephalometric tracing against the traditional manual tracing method. METHODS: The retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, Foundation University College of Dentistry and Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to April 2024, and comprised randomly-selected, goodquality pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs taken from the same imaging machine. The radiographs were subjected to both manual and digital OneCeph tracing methods by a single operator. Ten cephalometric variables used in Steiner 's analysis were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 60 radiographs range assessed, 30(50%) were included; 18(60%) from female patients and 12(40%) from male patients. The patient age was 15-40 years. When subjected to both manual and digital tracing, the radiographs showed no significant difference in any of the 10 parameters assessed between the two methods (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Digital tracing of lateral cephalometric radiographs could be a reliable alternative to manual tracing.