Craniofacial anthropometric measurements of the cohort of Egyptian male school children and their utility in detection of abnormalities

Abstract

Abstract Background Anthropology is a scientific discipline which applies scientific methods to identify and quantitate inter-individual variations in body structure and function. Anthropometry assesses craniofacial dysmorphology in genetic disorders and helps to detect phenotypic differences in diseases with common underlying cause. This study is part of a comprehensive cross-sectional study of craniofacial and oral findings in Egyptian school children. This paper focused on establishing the norms of Egyptian male school children and its utility in determining the differences in facial measurements of a child with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). Thirty craniofacial measurements were taken from 55 healthy Egyptian school children aged 12–14 years with mean age $$13\pm 0.64$$ 13 ± 0.64 and a PWS child aged 13.6 years. The PWS measurements were compared with healthy children of the same age using computed Z-score. Results Morphological face height of the PWS child was within the normal range. However, upper face height and nose height were significantly lower with Z-scores of $$-$$ -  3.18 and $$-$$ -  2.7, respectively; right and left mandibular body length and upper lip height were significantly higher than the mean of healthy children with corresponding Z-scores of 2.95, 2.48, and 2.33. Conclusions By establishing the norms of Egyptian male school children and utilizing these data, we can identify the difference in facial measurements among children with abnormalities like PWS. This information can be used during periodic checkups as a simple, non-invasive, and economical method for the detection of these abnormalities.