Cranial measurements and pattern of head shapes in children (0-36 months) from Sokoto, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the pattern of head shapes in children using cranial index values.
Material and Methods: Cranial length, cranial width and cranial index of 210 normal growing children (100 males and 110 females) aged 0 - 36 months old seen at the Institute of Child Health Center, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria over the period of one year were determined using standard cranial landmarks and procedures. The pattern of head shapes was determined using the cranial index values obtained from the study participants.
Results: The overall mean and standard deviation values for cranial length, cranial width and cranial index were 13.79±1.79 cm, 10.95±1.39 cm and 79.49±3.42 respectively. A statistically significant increase was observed in the cranial width values of males when compared to that of females. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference observed in the mean cranial length and mean cranial index values between the sexes. As per the present study, the predominant head shape type in males was Mesocephaly (31.90%) and in females, Brachycephaly (26.19%) while the least observed head shape pattern was Hyperbrachycephaly (1.42%) in males and Dolicocephaly (0.47%) in females.
Conclusion: Cranial parameters evaluated in this study are good indicators of skull and brain growth, thus can be of clinical importance in determining the timing and etiology of brain insults, especially in the first three years of postnatal life.
Keywords
Kaynakça
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