cephalometric neurocranial index of one-day-old male newborns in Kermanshah by anthropometry

ABSTRACT

The findings of cephalometry studies are widely applied in medical and engineering fields. Cephalometry measurements are affected by genetics, age, gender, and social, economic and geographic factors. This study assesses cephalometry of the neurocranium in male newborns in Kermanshan, Iran by an anthropometry method to confirm or reject the theory of brachycephalization [i.e., a spread in the width of the average head]. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted on 103 healthy male newbornsborn by natural childbirth in Kermanshah during 2012. The newborns' heights were measured by a stadiometer and their weight was obtained by using a newborn's scale. The neurocranium circumference was determined by a millimeter scaled tape. And the length and breadth of the neurocranium by Martin Saler cephalometry. Data were analyzed by SPSS. Cephalic index and neurocranium classification were determined by the classical cephalometry method. The mean and standard deviation of the newborns' anthropometry and cephalometry measurements were 506 +/- 20 cm [height], 3219 +/- 35 g [weight], 352 +/- 12 cm [head circumference], 115 +/- 4 mm [neurocranium length], 94 +/- 3 mm [neurocranium breadth], and 81 +/- 3 [cephalic index]. A total of 49% of the newborns were brachycephalic and 3% were dolichocephalic. The results shows that the cephalic index of Kermanshahi male newborns are larger than those of Turkman Qazvin, Native Fars and Tehran whereas thay are less than observed in Sistan and Baluchistan. The study confirms that anthropometry factors [i.e. age, genetic, etc.] impact these newborns. The cephalization theories in these newborns are also confirmed