Validated establishment of anthropometric measurements of mid-face zone in Egyptian healthy preschool-age children: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To provide normal reference data and identify growth patterns for craniofacial dimensions of a mid-face zone in healthy preschool Egyptian children. Background: Anthropometry is the biological science that provides objective data to the craniofacial morphology evaluation, through a series of head and face measurements by using simple, noninvasive, low-risk, and inexpensive techniques. Methods: The study was conducted on 3080 randomly selected healthy preschool boys and girls enrolled with criteria favoring good general health state and absence of any systemic disorders or long-term therapies. All children were subjected to detailed medical history, anthropometric measurements, head measurement (head circumference, head length, and width), and midface zone including eye measurements (inner canthal, outer canthal, inter-pupillary distance, and palpebral fissure length), nasal measurements (length, width, protrusion, columella length, and width), and ear measurements (length, width, projection, ear position, and rotation), with emphasis on the head should be erect (in the resting position) and both eyes facing forward. Results: Upon plotting general measurements, head measurements, and specific measures of eye, nose, and ear on Z-score charts, it was shown that no significant difference was detected for the studied mid-face dimensions in both sexes with 0.6–1% low set ear setting which may be of a familial pattern. Egyptian facial morphology shows no similarities to Afro-Americans, but resembles those of Iranians with observed disagreeable ear features in comparison to Turkish children. Conclusion: This study presents first referenced national Z-score curves that were accomplished to describe the growth pattern of mid-face proportions for Egyptian preschool healthy children.