Normal values of inner and outer intercanthal distances in a student population in southeast Nigeria

Normal values of inner and outer intercanthal distances in a student population in Nigeria were studied. A total of 460 students (264 males and 196 females) with mean age of 23.27±3.48 years for males and 21.37±2.82 years for females volunteered to be subjects in this study. The inner intercanthal distance (IICD) and outer intercanthal distance (OICD) were measured between the medial and lateral ends of the palpabral fissures respectively using a metric ruler. Other measurements taken were height, weight, fronto-occipital distance (FOD). The mean IICD for males and females were 43.90±4.11 mm and 41.77±3.37 mm respectively. The canthal index (CI) showed 37.10±2.93 for males and 36.41±2.69 for females. Non-parametric t-test evinced no significant (P>0.05) difference between the sexes for CI (P=0.841). Pearsons correlation coefficient indicated positive relationship between IICD, OICD, CI, FOD and Body surface area (BSA). IICD and OICD correlated with height while OICD alone correlated with Body mass index (BMI). A multiple regression equation was developed for CI as dependent variable and FOD, Age and height as independent variables. This study will provide a databank for craniofacial surgeons and ophthalmologists and help in the evaluation of deformities, post-traumatic telecanthus and hypertelorism in our population. Keywords: Inner intercanthal distance, Outer intercanthal distance, Canthal index, Students, Southeast Nigeria. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. Vol. 2 (3) 2008: pp. 355-35