The Morphometric Study of Nasal Parameters in Igbos, South East Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the normal mean values of nasal length, nasal breath, pronasal distances and nasal index of adult Igbo Nigerians. This will serve as baseline for plastic/ reconstructive, E.N.T, Oral-Maxillo-facial surgeons and others who work on Igbo nose and face anywhere in the world, for anthropometric/ forensic purposes and serve makers of facial prosthetics as guide to making materials that will fit the Igbo nose. It will also add to the body of literature on nasal indices. A total of 1000 subjects comprising of 500 males and 500 females with ages ranging from 15-25 years were studied. The subjects were randomly selected from eleven schools a University and ten (10) secondary schools in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State. They were confirmed to be of Igbo parentage and no previous surgery, injury or infection to the nose. A sliding scale Vernier calipers which gives an accuracy of 0.01cm was used for the measurement and the results were statistically analyzed. The mean length of the nose was 5.56± 0.14cm for females and 4.78±0.21cm for males, significant difference was observed between the nasal length of males and females (t=3.24, P<0.001). The mean breadth of the nose was 4.74±0.28cm for female and 4.78±0.28cm for males, significant difference was observed between the nasal breadth of male and female (t=0.01, P>1.00). The mean nasal Index of the nose was 88.8±4.56 females and 91.0±3.54males significant difference was observed between the nasal index of males and females (t=8.52, P<0.001). The Igbos are platyrrhine, both females and males. The parameters evaluated in this study provide important data for forensic medicine, physical anthropometry, data base and guide to surgeons in rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction on Igbos, as well as makers of facial (nasal) prosthetics and artists.