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Soft tissue facial angles in Down's syndrome subjects: a three-dimensional non-invasive study
Virgilio F Ferrario1, Claudia Dellavia, Graziano Serrao
1Functional Anatomy Research Centre, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia and Facoltà di Scienze Motorie, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. farc@unimi.it
European Journal of Orthodontics
|July 27, 2005
Summary
This study quantifies the 3D facial soft tissue differences in individuals with Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome exhibit flatter facial profiles and more acute jaw angles compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Anthropometry
- Genetics
Background:
- Down syndrome is associated with characteristic craniofacial morphology.
- Understanding the three-dimensional (3D) soft tissue arrangement is crucial for clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively analyze the 3D facial soft tissue structure in individuals with Down syndrome.
- To compare 3D facial parameters between Down syndrome subjects and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Recorded 3D coordinates of 50 facial landmarks using an electromechanical digitizer.
- Calculated various 3D facial angles (e.g., convexity, gonial, nasolabial) from landmark data.
- Compared measurements between Down syndrome subjects (n=28) and healthy controls (n=429) using z-scores.
Main Results:
- Subjects with Down syndrome showed significantly increased facial convexity (flatter profiles) in the upper and mid-facial thirds.
- A significantly flatter facial profile in the sagittal plane and increased nasal convexity angle were observed.
- Reduced (more acute) left and right soft tissue gonial angles were found in Down syndrome subjects.
- Hypoplasia of the mid-facial third with reduced nasal protrusion and a reduced mandible were noted.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with Down syndrome exhibit distinct 3D soft tissue facial characteristics, including flatter profiles and altered jaw angles.
- These findings provide quantitative data for understanding the craniofacial phenotype in Down syndrome.
- The results can inform clinical interventions and surgical planning for individuals with Down syndrome.