Four measurements for assessing facial deformity

Four lateral cephalometric measurements which localize the anterior maxilla and chin in the horizontal and vertical planes are presented and evaluated against three control methods, in a pilot study of 40 patients. It was found that in 27 out of 30 comparisons (90%) the frequency of agreement between the proposed and each of the control methods was greater than the agreement between the control methods themselves. In three out of 30 comparisons (10%) it was found that the frequency of agreement between the proposed and the control methods was the same as between the controls themselves. In addition, there was a greater agreement reached between methods when measurements were related to the cranial base. In view of the close relationship between cranial and facial development, it was considered that measuring ratios should portray the facial deformity not just in relation to the cranial base but to the individual's own cranial base and not to a population norm. The results also confirm the findings of previous work in the literature which demonstrate disagreement between cephalometric methods for localization of a given landmark.