Anthropometric Study of Facial Morphology in Northern Thai Population Aged 1 to 18 Years Old to Inform the Timing of Craniofacial Reconstruction

Abstract

Objective: To determine normal range of craniofacial structures, compare between male and female and establish growth curves in subjects aged 4 to 18 years old. Moreover, to determine normal range of craniofacial structures in subpopulation aged 1 to 3 years old. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study including 388 healthy subjects consisted of 363 subjects aged 4 to 18 years old and 25 subjects aged 1 to 3 years old. Both groups were Northern Thai. All subjects were measured to record the craniofacial anthropometry and established the growth curves in 6 regions including head, face, orbit, nose, labio-oral and ears. Results: In the population aged 4 to 18 years old, upper vermillion height of males was 9.03±2.92 mm. while in females was 8.45±2.38 mm (p=0.039). Left auricular length of males was 57.22±5.33 mm, while in females was 55.89±4.59 mm (p=0.011). Right auricular length of males was 57.40±5.35 mm, while in females was 55.91±4.75 mm (p=0.006). In the population aged 1 to 3 years old, left palpebral fissure of male was 10.42±2.45 mm, while in females was 8.27±1.43 mm (p=0.041). The trend in morphological face height was stable after 13 years old. The trend in physiognomical face height, binocular width, mouth width, and auricular height was stable after 16 years old. The trend in forehead height, mandible width, and nasolabial angle was stable after 18 years old. Conclusion: Each of the parameters showed a tendency to be stable at a specific cut-off age. Therefore, craniofacial reconstruction should be carried out after the specific cut-off ages identified in the results. Keywords: Facial anthropometry; Anthropometrics; Craniofacial; Northern Thai