Statural growth patterns and maxillofacial growth in children from 6 to 12 years of age from the city of Cuenca

Abstract

Objective: To establish reference maxillofacial and stature growth patterns in children aged 6 to 12 years in the city of Cuenca. Materials and methods: Quantitative correlational study, the sample consisted of 1750 children from 6 to 12 years old, selected in a probabilistic way and stratified by age and sex. The schoolchildren belonged to the different schools in the city of Cuenca, from whom anthropometric measurements such as height, lower facial height and maxillary depth were taken; a height rod and calipers were used to collect the information, the data of which were recorded by means of a data collection sheet prepared by the authors and validated at the discretion of experts. The lower facial height and depth of the maxilla were used to develop a percentile distribution: p15, p50, p85 related to the height of the schoolchild, for the height analysis the distribution was developed through the values of the mean and standard deviation. Results: The average sizes in children were established by age and gender, the values were summarized in five categories that could be used as referential measurements for the height in infants from 6 to 12 years old. The variables lower facial height and maxillary depth were obtained percentile values (p15, p50, p85) from the height of the infants, obtaining ranges from 4.4cm to 7cm for the lower facial height and from 9.1cm to 12.2cm for maxillary depth. Conclusion: The reference measures of height in children obtained in the present study vary from the values established by the World Health Organization (WHO), with the height of infants in the city of Cuenca being 3cm below the 50th percentile of the WHO. Schoolchildren in the city of Cuenca could use the maxillofacial growth patterns elaborated from the height in order to monitor their adequate growth.