Craniometric Study of Nasal Bones and Frontal Processes of Maxilla

Knowing the anatomy of the nasal framework and its components, as well as their relations of size and shape is essential to correctly and safely perform nasal surgery, such as rhinoplasty. Symmetry and proportion of nasal bones and frontal processes of the maxilla related to patient's skull shape is not yet well established. Variation of these proportions due to differences in skull shape may interfere in the results of rhinoplasty, leading to poor aesthetic results and postoperative complications. This paper's objective is to measure and evaluate differences in shape and size of bony components of nasal framework (nasal bones and frontal process of maxilla) among different classes of skull shape. 121 skulls from UNIFESP-EPM Anatomy Museum, filed with registration number, age, gender, ethnic group and death cause were used. After classification of all skulls according to gender, ethnic group and skull class (brachycranic, mesocranic or dolicocranial), eleven standard points were marked at nasal region, and measures between these points were taken. A total of 2416 measures were taken and analyzed using Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests. No significant differences were found when sides were compared for all studied skulls. For male skulls, when different skull classes were compared, there was significant difference in the distance between nasomaxillary suture and anterior lacrimal crest. For female skulls, when different skull classes were compared, there was significant difference in the length of nasomaxillary suture (lateral height of the nose) and width of nasal bones (width of nasal dorsum). When measures were compared between male and female skulls, there was significant difference, being male measures of nasal bones and frontal process of maxilla larger than female