Nasolabial Anthropometry of Thai Neonates and 4-Month-Old Infants at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University
Sirisrisudakul P, DDS1, Manosudprasit M, DDS, MDS, FRCDT1, Manosudprasit A, DDS, DScD, CAGs1, Kiatchoosakun P, MD2, Pisek P, DDS, MSc, FRCDT, MOrthRCSEd, PhD1, Manosudprasit A, DDS, MSD, CAGs1
Affiliation : 1 Division of Orthodontics, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : The ethnic-based nasolabial reference values should be established for evaluations of the patients with dysmorphic
faces and assessments of craniofacial surgeries.
Objective : To establish 1) standard nasolabial values for Thai neonates and 4-month-old infants at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen
University, and 2) to compare mean values between sexes.
Materials and Methods : Thirty neonates and thirty 4-months-old infants were enrolled in the study. Direct measurements of the
nose and lip were taken by one examiner. Intra-observer variations had been tested. Means, standard deviations (SD) and range
were reported. The independent t-test was used to compare all parameters between males and females.
Results : This study established standard values of nasolabial parameters among Thai neonates and 4 -month-old infants. In neonates,
the mean values were 11.92+1.18 mm for upper lip height, inter-commissural distance 25.05+1.53 mm, right nostril width 5.55+0.80
mm, left nostril width 6.48+0.86 mm, right nostril height 3.23+0.39 mm and left nostril height 3.25+0.38 mm. There were no
statistically significant differences between sexes in this group. In 4-month-old infants, the mean values of the measurements were
14.25+1.06 mm for upper lip height, inter-commissural distance 31.52+2.68 mm, right nostril width 6.79+0.88 mm, left nostril
width 6.73+0.87mm, right nostril height 4.79+0.73 mm and left nostril height 4.74+0.77 mm. In addition, there were no statistically
significant differences between sexes except for left and right nostril width and inter-commissural distance.
Conclusion : In this study we established nasolabial norm values for Thai neonates and 4-month-old infants which could be used as
a guideline to evaluate the efficacy of presurgical alveolar molding and cheiloplasty in cleft lip and palate infants.
Keywords : Facial soft tissue parameters, Craniofacial parameters, Craniofacial measurements, Direct measurement, Direct anthropometry
