Archives

Introduction: Craniofacial anthropometry is the precise measurement of different parts of human skull and face to find their relative proportions. Canthal index comprising of inner and outer canthal distance is an important anthropometric measurement for the evaluation of different systemic syndromes and craniofacial defects. People with different genetic background and environmental conditions have different craniofacial morphology.

Objective: This study aims to measure inner and outer canthal distance and calculate canthal index among students of Newar and Brahmin ethnic groups and find the mean value of canthal index among total male and female students.

Materials and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 students, each of Newar and Brahmin ethnic group with the age ranging from 18-25 years in the Department of Anatomy, Kantipur Dental College Teaching Hospital, Basundhara, Kathmandu. The inner and outer canthal distance were measured by a digital vernier caliper. Canthal index was then calculated as inner canthal distance/ outer canthal distance × 100.

Result: The mean canthal index was 33.80±2.39 for male students and 33.06±2.34 for female students. Inner canthal distance was measured to be higher in Newar students whereas mean value of outer canthal distance was higher in Brahmin students. The mean canthal index for Newar and Brahmin students were 33.80±2.32 and 32.78±2.33 respectively.

Conclusion: This study concluded with the higher value of canthal index in male students than in female students exhibiting sexual dimorphism. Newar students had higher value of canthal index than Brahmin students.

Craniofacial; lateral canthus; medial canthus.