Nasofacial Anthropometric Study among University Students of Three Races in Malaysia

Abstract

Objective. Anthropometric data of the nasofacial dimensions is vital in nasofacial surgery, forensics medicine, and diagnostic comprehension. Nasofacial anthropometry is “ethnic sensitive” and has distinct sexual dimorphism. This study is aimed to observe the variations of length and width of face and nose among university students of three races in Ipoh, Malaysia. Material and Method. A cross-sectional study was done on 200 college students aged between 18 and 21 years, using convenient sampling method. The facial length and width and nasal length and width were measured. The data were analysed using the SPSS software. Result. The mean facial index of Malay subjects showed 88.82 ± 6.63 with nasal index of 81.00 ± 7.48, showing dominance of the leptoprosopic face type and mesorrhine nose type. Chinese subjects showed facial index and nasal index of 85.65 ± 6.50 and 79.56 ± 8.62, respectively, having mesoprosopic face type and mesorrhine nose type. Indian students had facial index of 92.57 ± 7.19 and nasal index of 76.27 ± 7.39, having leptoprosopic face type and mesorrhine nose type. The differences in means of facial and nasal indices between the three races were statistically significant (P<0.005). Conclusion. The result of our study has confirmed that there was sexual dimorphism of facial and nasal parameters and also significant differences of facial and nasal indices amongst the three Malaysian race groups.