Craniofacial and body growth: a cross-sectional anthropometric pilot study on children during prepubertal period.
OBJECTIVE
This was to compare craniofacial and body growth during prepubertal period using direct medical anthropometry for body and craniofacial measurements.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 100 patients (48 males, 52 females), aged between 7 and 12 years. Thirty craniofacial and body measurements of height, width, length and circumference were made on each subject.


METHODS
Comparisons were made of averages, percentages and standard deviations, for three growth patterns during prepubertal period: cranial, facial and body growth pattern. Linear correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to evaluate the intensity of the interdependence between variables, using BMDP Dynamic software.


RESULTS
Skull and face measurements increased less than body dimensions, but those for the face increased more than for skull, which was valid both for males and females. Differences between males and females were determined for standing height, mandibular height (T-Go) and lower facial height (Sto-Gn).


CONCLUSIONS
No body parameter was found to be a good indicator of craniofacial growth during this period. The jaw was found to be the facial area that showed the higher development.
Cozza
P
P
Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy. p.cozza@flashnet.it
Stirpe
G
G
Condó
R
R
Donatelli
M
M
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height; D049628:Body Size; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011627:Puberty; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*