Evaluation of correlation of dermatoglyphic patterns and sagittal skeletal discrepancies and growth patterns

Abstract

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that a correlation exists between dermatoglyphic patterns and sagittal skeletal discrepancies and growth patterns. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalograms and digital fingerprint records of 180 subjects (90 males and 90 females) aged 18-40 years were obtained. These subjects were categorized into six sagittal skeletal discrepancy groups based on sagittal skeletal parameters and into growth pattern groups based on Tweed's Frankfurt mandibular plane angle. Results: The ulnar loop was the most frequent and the radial loop was the least frequent fingerprint pattern. It revealed that ulnar loop pattern was more frequent in Skeletal Class II with mandibular deficiency group and it was least frequent in Skeletal Class III with mandibular excess group; there was also a increase in frequency of plain whorl pattern in Class III with mandibular excess group but these were statistically insignificant. Even in growth pattern there was no statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: As per our study there was no statistically significant correlation between dermatoglyphic patterns and sagittal skeletal discrepancies and growth patterns.