The Relationship Between Hard Tissue and Soft Tissue Dimensions of the Nose in Children: A 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

Abstract

This study using three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of children determined relationships between nasal skeletal and soft tissue measurements and assessed the association with sex, age, and skeletal maturation stage. Following reliability studies, skeletal and soft tissue parameters were measured on coded CBCTs of 73 children (28M:45F;6-13 yoa). Pearson and Mantel correlations were used to analyze associations between skeletal and soft tissues. Partial Mantel correlations were used to study the associations between skeletal and soft tissue, adjusting for sex, age, and skeletal maturation. Linear regression analyses were used to predict soft tissues sizes. Logistic regression was used to study the relationships between soft and skeletal tissue symmetry. Except for nasal aperture width and interalar width, skeletal landmarks best predicted corresponding soft tissue landmarks. Significant positive associations existed between skeletal and soft tissues after adjusting for sex, skeletal maturation, and age. Children's nasal skeletal tissues predicted nasal soft tissue reasonably well.

Influence of skeletal class and facial type on nose dimensions in a Brazilian subpopulation: a CBCT study

“…Reconstruction of the nasal region is one of the most critical stages of the FR due to the complexity of this anatomical structure and subjectivity of the method. 9,13 Therefore, studies about the influence of different factors such as sex, age, and ethnicity on nose dimensions have been performed to provide data for a more reliable reconstruction. 1,9,18,19,27 Although some researchers suggested that the facial form and dimensions are not exclusively defined by the underlying skeletal tissues, the relationship between skeletal and soft tissue parameters could provide valuable information about the strength of correlation and accuracy of the prediction process.…”

“…4 Previous studies have suggested that the anthropomorphometric features of the face are influenced by several factors such as sex, ethnicity, age, and skeletal classes. 7,8,9,10 Thus, substantial knowledge about the biologic profile, craniofacial musculature, and skeletal anatomy is of great importance for human recognition through the FR technique, since the relationship between these factors contributes to the facial singularity of each individual. 1,3,11 Nasal morphology is an important feature for a reliable FR as the nose is the most central and prominent structure of the human face.…”

“…1,3,11 Nasal morphology is an important feature for a reliable FR as the nose is the most central and prominent structure of the human face. 9,12 The position, shape, size and symmetry of the nose are determining elements for facial expression, and its dimensions significantly affect the facial soft tissue form and the degree of profile convexity. 9 Unfortunately, the nose shape is lost during cadaveric decomposition, since its constitution is mainly cartilage and soft tissue, which may decrease FR accuracy.…”

“…9,12 The position, shape, size and symmetry of the nose are determining elements for facial expression, and its dimensions significantly affect the facial soft tissue form and the degree of profile convexity. 9 Unfortunately, the nose shape is lost during cadaveric decomposition, since its constitution is mainly cartilage and soft tissue, which may decrease FR accuracy. 9 Therefore, establishing dimensional parameters that facilitate nose reconstruction is important to obtain a precise FR.…”

“…9 Unfortunately, the nose shape is lost during cadaveric decomposition, since its constitution is mainly cartilage and soft tissue, which may decrease FR accuracy. 9 Therefore, establishing dimensional parameters that facilitate nose reconstruction is important to obtain a precise FR.…”