“Evaluation of 3d Position and Size of Ear Using Anthropometric Landmarks Amongst General Population: A Cross Sectional Study.”

Abstract

Aim

Anthropometry is an amalgamation of art and science which together is put to use extensively for measuring the soft tissue proportions. The study was carried out with an aim of restoring the normalcy in patients with bilaterally missing ears which can be significantly reduced by just the knowledge and simple execution of anthropometric measurements of natural ear in local population. The main objective is to evaluate the corelation of natural ear dimension and position with thirds of face in both the genders and in relation to mid coronal plane and also to examine the protrusion of external ear from mastoid bone in both the genders. And lastly to identify corelation of ear angulation to nose angulation from lateral aspect.

Materials and Methods

Study was done on 100 participants with normal facial features. Anthropometric landmarks like glabella, trichion, subnasale, superaurale, subaurale, gnathion, tragus were determined and various anthropometric measurements and facial proportional indices were evaluated (both horizontal and vertical) using standard anthropometric instruments like vernier calliper, spring calliper, measuring tape, measuring scale and goniometer as described by Farkas L. G.

Results

The statistical analysis showed the average ear length 60.66 ± 3.415 mm with bigger ear in males and mostly corelated to middle third of face in dimensions. Ear vertical position is within the middle third of face and the average inter coronal tragus difference 15.87± 2.7 mm. Average ear protrusion from mastoid is 19.60 ±2.0 mm. The average difference of degree in nose and ear angle= 10-11°.

Conclusion

After careful assessment of statistics, measurements and outcomes we were able to conclude that the glabella to subnasale distance was the most dependent variable with respect to the length and position of the ear, while the ear protrusion of average 19-20 mm from mastoid is seen in all 100 subjects. Regardless of gender, ear angulation was generally less than that of nose angulation with difference of 10-11°. All the measurements showed lower values in case of female population as compared to males. Further studies are necessary in this regard with bigger samples size, more parameters and ruling out confounding factors and results will be more specific if the results are corelated with cephalometrics.