Nasofacial anthropometric evaluation of a sample of Pakistani children: A community-based study

Abstract

Introduction: Harmony in facial morphology is created by a delicate balance between nose-chin and lip spatial relationship. Nasal proportions and dimensions have always be pivotal in  creating / affecting facial aesthetics and nasal index assessment pre-post extraction, expansion, distraction and orthognathic surgery has re-enforced its significance in orthodontics. . Aim of this study is to evaluate the nasal and facial indices in Pakistani children that will help to identify the variation in type of nose and face among them.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at various schools of Lahore, Pakistan with age range 3-14 years. Data was collected by taking nasal and facial measurements with digital vernier caliper and geometric divider to the nearest 1mm. Data was entered and analyzed for description using SPSS version-25. One- sample t-test was applied to test the significance of the variables. Post-stratification Pearson correlation test was used between facial and nasal index.

Results: The means of nasal height, nasal width, nasal index, face height, face width, facial index of total sample (N) were found to be 53.08±5.56 mm, 28.84±3.67 mm, 54.41±6.34 mm,106.25±9.02 mm, 118.07±9.28 mm and 89.95±6.91 respectively. Frequent nose type found was hyperleptorrhine and face type was hyperleptoprosopic in both genders.

Conclusions: Statistically significant negative correlation was found between nasal and facial index in both genders (r= -0.102 females and r= -0.237 in males).