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Morphometric methods to evaluate craniofacial growth: study in rabbits

Department of Dentistry at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

*Correspondence to: Dr Elaine Bauer Veeck, Av. Cristóvão Colombo, 3084 – sala 708/709, Higienópolis – Porto Alegre / RS – Brazil - CEP: 90550-002;Email: ebveeck{at}zaz.com.br

Received 3 December 2004; revised 19 May 2005; accepted 26 June 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of direct and indirect measurement methods, with a view to standardizing morphometry instruments.

Methods: Dry skulls of 30 New Zealand rabbits were used. Measurements were made with a transparent flexible plastic ruler, an EKG calliper and a digital calliper, as well as with computerized tomography and lateral radiographs for direct and indirect analysis of distances and angles.

Results: The different instruments studied showed only partial agreement.

Conclusions: A standardized and reliable direct or indirect morphometry method for the craniofacial skeleton of rabbits still has not been determined.

Keywords: cranial growth and development; maxillofacial development; craniometry; animal models