Soft Tissue Facial Anthropometry in Down Syndrome Subjects

Abstract

The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 selected soft tissue facial landmarks were digitized on 28 white Italian subjects with Down syndrome (17 male and 11 female subjects aged 12 to 45 years) and 429 healthy controls of comparable ages by an electromechanical instrument. From the landmarks, 16 facial dimensions were calculated. Data were compared with those collected in healthy individuals by computing z-scores. Overall, most variables were smaller in subjects with Down syndrome than in their normal controls selected for sex, age, and ethnicity (negative z-scores), even if not all of them reached statistical significance. Independently of sex, subjects with Down syndrome had faces that were significantly (P <0.05, paired Student t test) narrower (skull base and mandible), less deep (upper, middle, and lower face), and shorter (face and nose height) than the faces of normal subjects. Additionally, ear width and length were significantly reduced on both sides of the face. Only facial height was significantly different between sexes (P = 0.023, unpaired Student t test), with a female z-score that was more than two times the relevant male value. The present investigation represents the first detailed quantitative analysis of the facial soft tissue characteristics of Italian white subjects with Down syndrome.

Morphometry of the Orbital Region Soft Tissues in Down Syndrome

“…The Italian subjects were 19 women aged 16 to 45 years (mean, 27 [SD,7] years) and 34 men aged 13 to 52 years (mean, 27 [SD, 9] years); they all were athletes attending the Italian games of Special Olympics; details about these subjects were previously published. 14,15,18,19 The Northern Sudanese subjects were 18 women aged 5 to 34 years (mean, 15 [SD, 9] years) and 46 men aged 4 to 33 years (mean 15 [SD,7] years); they all attended special needs schools in Khartoum (Sudan); details about these subjects were previously published. 20,21 None of the subjects had undergone craniofacial surgeries.…”

“…23 The data collection procedure with the electromechanic instrument gave a mean technical error of measurement of 1.33 mm. 14 For the North Sudanese subjects, a portable handheld laser scanner (FastSCAN Cobra; Polhemus Inc, Colchester, VT) was used for data collection, and actual anthropometric calculations were performed off-line. The technique produces a detailed threedimensional model of the face.…”

“…20,21 For white subjects, previous investigations found no significant sex-related differences. 9,14,15,18 Sample composition is one of the limitations of the current study: for both ethnic groups, convenience subjects were analyzed, with different age ranges between them. In addition, Italian subjects were all athletes attending Special Olympics game, and they all had practiced 1 or more sports.…”

Correlation between the occlusal vertical dimension and the pupil rima oris distance among Sundanese population

“…The difference could be caused by the facial dimensions that are modifies during growth and development with sex-related characteristics. 13 Individual variation among the example of male and female includes a range of features. Examples of clear differences are found in the length and width of the nose and mouth, the inclinations of forehead and nose, as well as the overall shape of the face.…”

Quantitative Evaluation of the Facial Morphology of a Tolteca Figurine from Mexico using Geometric Morphometric Approaches

“…DS faces are frequently thought of as "characteristic" but factors such as genetic background, age, sex, environment, and altered growth patterns can affect the traits present in each individual DS face (Ferrario et al, 2004a(Ferrario et al, , 2004bFink et al, 1975;Fischer-Brandies, 1986;Frostad;Starbuck et al, 2011). As a result, DS faces are variable, and many morphological forms can be associated with the "characteristic" DS face.…”