The Shapes of Head and Face in Normal Full Term Newborns in Hills of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Cephalometric measurements especially in first day after birth are important for assessment of neonatal health status. This study was conducted in the view of the importance of anthropometric indices of head and face in pediatrics, orofacial surgery, forensic medicine, medical imaging and diagnostic comprehension between patient and normal population. There is hardly any published data about the types of head and face shapes in three different zones of Himachal Pradesh. Methods: 327 normal newborns comprising 177 males, 150 females delivered in labor wards of civil hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, measured in 12-24 hours after birth. Head length, head width, face length, face width with cephalic and prosopic indices were measured by using digital vernier caliper. The study was undertaken to document the various craniofacial forms of newborns in Himachal Pradesh. Results: The mean and SD for cephalic index of male and female full term newborns in Himachal Pradesh were 80.97±4.18 (p<0.0054), the mean and SD value for lower hills and inner Himalaya were 80.34±4.43, 82.12±4.12 respectively. The mean and SD for prosopic index of male and female full term newborns were 68.71±6.1 (p<0.1507), and for lower hills and inner Himalaya were 67.29±5.99, 71.75±5.26 respectively. Dominant Brachycephalic type of head shape was found 40.67%, Mesocephalic 33.97% and Dolicocephalic rare type were 7.95% in Himachal Pradesh. Conclusion: The dominant cephalic index in Himachal was Brachycephalic heads, in lower zone with Mesocephalic head shapes while in inner zone have Brachycephalic. The dominant prosopic index was hypereuryprosopic face in each zone. This study also disagree the statements of all India anthropometric survey that hilly people have long round heads and round faces.

Study of Cephalic Index in Newborns of Kavre Region

“…21 This finding is comparable to that of the current study. Few other studies conducted among Turkish, 8 Nigerian 10 and Indian 13,15 newborns observed that the males had higher mean values but the overall mean values were greater than the present study. The mean value for head breadth in males (93.77±4.33 mm) was slightly higher than that of females (91.51±5.39 mm).…”

“…A study done on different regions of India observed lower mean values it was revealed in which females had higher values than males. 13 The types of head shape which is described in this study had also been discussed in other studies in Indian, 1,13,15 Italian, 14 Iranian, 3,4,6,12 Nigerian 7,10 and Polish 16 children. A study done by Sinha et al on Sikkimese origin Indian population was in accordance with our study who reported hyperbrachycephalic type of head as most common type.…”

“…Similar result was also found by authors who revealed the mean values of head breadth is higher among males in different region of India. 13,21 But a study done on Kanuri tribes of people in Nigeria claimed that the females head breadth values are more than that of males. 7 Head circumference: Few studies reported the mean value of head circumference which is not supported by the results of the current study.…”

“…4 Sikka et al observed the overall type of head is mesocephalic but coming to different endogamous group it varied to be mesocephalic and brachycephalic. 1 Similarly, few studies conducted in northern 13 and southern 15 part of India concluded brachycephalic and mesocephalic respectively dominant type of head. A study done among Italian population found that the brachycephalic was the dominant type of head which when compare with present study it is second most common type of head.…”

“…1,[10][11][12] The brachycephalic type has become dominant in different communities. 4,13,14 Taking demographic into account central parts of Europe, Indian population have mesocephalic head. 3,6,15,16 Although anthropometric data of neonates have been carried out in other parts of the world, it is generally lacking in developing countries.…”