DENTAL SCIENCES. Anthropometric Accuracy and Precision of New Stereophotogrammetry System.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of facial anthropométrie mea - surements obtained by new stereophotogrammetric system compared to direct measurements. Study design: Validity study was performed in the aspects of accuracy and precision. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The sample consisted of thirty participants with age range from 18-35 years of Malay origin. Twenty linear distances were directly measured from participant's face by digital caliper. The same distances were measured by a stereophotogrammetry system. The accuracy and bias of the direct versus indirect was estimated by Pearson's and Spearman's correlation and paired t-test. The intra and inter observer precision was estimated by mean absolute difference (MAD) and relative error magnitude (REM). Results: Significant correlation coefficients were recorded at p < 0.002 in all of the distances except mandibular depth (go-gn). Six out of twenty distances were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.002). However 4 out of 6 showed difference less than 1 mm. Those were intercanthal width (en-en), nasal width (alai), mouth width (ch-ch) and orbito-gonial distance (ex-go). The absolute mean difference (MAD) was less than 2 mm, except for mandibular depth (go-gn) and lower facial depth (t-gn). Moreover, REM percentages were less than 4.31% and 4.94% for the intra and inter observer respectively. Conclusion: The stereophotogrammetry system provided accurate and precise measurements for 18 out of 20 anthropométrie distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]