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Folia Anthropologica 4; 43. (2006)
THE IMPORTANCE OF ANTHROPOMETRY IN RESEARCH
OF CRANIOFACIAL DISFIGUREMENTS
Leslie G. Farkas
Department of Plastic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Quantitative analysis of the morphological changes of the craniofacial complex is essential for the
successful surgical treatment. In order to determine the morphological changes appropriate anthropometric
measurements are used. The successful surgical treatment requires precise anthropometric analysis of the
face. For assessment of the degree of disfigurements the surgeon is using the required norms of the
craniofacial complex. The sex and age of the patient should establish the proper time of the surgical
intervention. At the present time with frequent migration of people the ethnic/racial origin of patients is
essential to know. Evidently, in case of surgical intervention the craniofacial norms, listed in the national
characteristics of the patient’s origin, must be used.
The three dimensional character of the craniofacial complex requires in addition to the single linear
measurements in the 6 regions of the craniofacial complex (forehead, face, orbits, nose, oral region and
ears), also the knowledge of the value of relationships between them: the proportion indices. Areal
proportions are informing us about the relationship of measurements within the individual regions of the
craniofacial complex. The interareal proportion indices are revealing the relation quality between the
measurements within two different regions. To bring about the determination of the appropriate quality
(degree) of the craniofacial surface measurements for patients, normal values are required in all age
groups and for all nations/races of patient, from childhood to adulthood. It is essential for surgical
interventions of patients with disfigurement of the craniofacial complex.
The maturation of the individual areas of the craniofacial complex is reached earlier in females than
in males. At 15 years of age all anatomical points of the craniofacial complex are fully developed in
males, which is finished by 14 years of age in females. Exception is the length of the ear (sa-sba), which is
fully developed by age 12 years. The age of maturation is important, because a milder degree of disfigurement
in early childhood (1-6 years of age) may correct itself and thus disappear by the age of maturation.
The surgical correction of the craniofacial dismorphology of a patient demand appropriate anthropometric
norms of the face and head of the healthy subjects. The race, nationality, sex and age of the patient
would determine the way where to look for information requested. Thus, to find the most suitable method
of the surgical intervention, precise results of the preoperative anthropometric analysis have to be
ascertained. It means, the essential requirement is to possess the necessary scientific medical literature.
A szerző címe:
Dr. Leslie G. Farkas
59 Claywood Road
Toronto, ON
M2N 2R3
CANADA
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