Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the facial features of Down's syndrome. The faces of 30 adults with Down's syndrome,30 normal individuals (consisting of 15 males and 15 females in each group) were analyzed using the Moire topography in three-dimensional measurements. I measured the facial surface area and volume to obtain all the features, and observed the mid-face in detail. Further, I investigated the facial features of Down's syndrome by using an index prepared from the pattern of the Moire topography.
The results were as follows:
1) From the results of the measurement of the facial surface area and volume, a difference in facial features was observed in the mid-face between those with Down's syndrome and normal individuals. The development of the midface with those with Down's syndrome was significantly less, and its form was flatter in patients with Down's syndrome than in the controls.
2) The mean value of the distance between the left and right canthus was 35.03mm in the control and 33.82 mm in patients with Down's syndrome, so, the hypertelorism in patients with Down's syndrome was negligible. The length of the nose was an important factor in explaining an apparent hypertelorism in Down's syndrome from the result of the MDBI value.
3) The development of the nose was significantly less in patients with Down's syndrome than in the controls. The volume of the nose in patients with Down's syndrome was 75% of that in the controls from the result of MDNI value.
4) The development of the part proportionate to the maxilla was significantly less in patients with Down's syndrome than in the controls. The growth quantity of the part proportionate to the maxilla in patients with Down's syndrome was 80% of that in the controls from the result of MDMI values.
5) The oblique palpebral fissure accounted for 6.67% in control and 30.00%in patients with Down's syndrome.
6) The epicanthic fold accounted for 30.00% in control and 70.00% in patients with Down's syndrome.
