Craniofacial anthropometric investigation of relationships between the nose and nasal aperture using 3D computed tomography of Korean subjects

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships of morphology and locations of the nose and nasal aperture by using major craniofacial landmarks on the human skull and face for craniofacial reconstruction/approximation of Koreans. In the frontal view, the positions of bony landmarks on the skull, including the nasal aperture, were correlated with the positions of nasal landmarks vertical to the transverse plane. In profile, the positions of bony landmarks on the skull were correlated with the positions of nasal landmarks horizontal to the coronal plane. Overall, 26 of the 76 measurements demonstrated significant correlations between the corresponding landmarks on the nose and nasal aperture. Simple regression equations were produced from the results. This study showed that the nose and nasal aperture are significantly related to each other in terms of their morphology and location in Koreans. The prediction guidelines, produced as regression formulas, can be applied to craniofacial reconstruction/approximation and bio-anthropological research of Korean skulls. The study results can also be used clinically in rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction surgery.