Morphometric methods to evaluate craniofacial growth: study in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of direct and indirect measurement methods, with a view to standardizing morphometry instruments.


METHODS
Dry skulls of 30 New Zealand rabbits were used. Measurements were made with a transparent flexible plastic ruler, an EKG calliper and a digital calliper, as well as with computerized tomography and lateral radiographs for direct and indirect analysis of distances and angles.


RESULTS
The different instruments studied showed only partial agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
A standardized and reliable direct or indirect morphometry method for the craniofacial skeleton of rabbits still has not been determined.
de Abreu
A T
AT
Department of Dentistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Veeck
E B
EB
da Costa
N P
NP
D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014716:Vertical Dimension