Facial Index of Bini Tribe on Plain Skull Radiograph

Abstract

Anthropometry is the quantifying of the human body whether dead or alive and facial anthropometry quantifies the facial phenotype based on parameters such as facial length, width and index. In this retrospective study a total of 216 antero-posterior skull radio graphs of 216 patients (125 males and 91 females) were selected. The biodata of each subjects were obtained from the request forms and entered into a data sheet. Facial diameters were measured on the radiographs on a viewing box using a meter rule. The facial length (FL) was measured as the longitudinal distance between the naso-frontal suture and the symphysis menti. The facial width (FW) was taken as the distance between the most lateral parts of the zygomatic bones and the facial index was calculated based on the equation shown below: Facial index= (FL/FW) x 100. The shapes of the faces were classified based on the facial index. The mean facial length measured 11.8cm ± 1.8 and 11. 6cm ± 1.0 while the mean facial width, measured 13.5cm ± 1. 7and13.3cm ± 1.0 for males and females respectively. Facial index was higher in females than males, measuring 87.8 ± 5. 6 and 86.8 ± 6.5 respectively. The dominant facial type in this study was mesoprosopic for males with a prevalence of 32.8% (41) and leptoprosopic for females with a prevalence of 32.9% (30). This survey has documented the facial dimensions and type of the Bini tribe based on skull radiograph and this will be indispensable to anthropologists, forensic experts and plastic surgeons.

Keywords: facial index, facial length, facial width, skull radiograph, facial type.