[The use of regression functions for reconstruction of the cutaneous profile, from facial bone elements]

Based on a sample of 51 living subjects, aged 21 years, whose sex was known and who has a teleradiographic tracing of the head (including soft tissues) in vestibular orientation, statistical mean types were established using the rectangular coordinates of 9 skeletal points and 10 cutaneous points. Spatial variability was demonstrated. The position of the skin points was placed relative to the homologue skeletal points and was used for simple and multiple "regression" equations for each of the coordinates. This study demonstrated that, despite application of sophisticated statistical procedures, there is a great degree of incertainty in the validity of facial "reconstruction" for a given subject.