Evaluation of canthal dimensions among adults of ejagham ethnic group in cross river state, nigeria

Evaluation of Canthal dimensions can be employed in identification of the sex, age and ethnicity. It is also a vital part of craniofacial anthropometry. This study was aimed at obtaining normal values of canthal dimensions in adults of the Ejagham ethnic group in Cross River State of South-South Nigeria. A total of Five hundred subjects (250 males and 250 females) aged 18-45 years were recruited for this study. The subjects were measured for innercanthal distance (ICD) and outercanthal distance (OCD) with a nonstretchable plastic ruler and canthal index (CI) was obtained as the ratio of inner canthal distance and the outer canthal distance multiplied by 100. The results we obtained showed that Ejagham males and females had outer canthal distances of 11.42 cm and 11.23 cm, respectively, whereas inner canthal distances were 3.40cm for Ejagham males and 3.20 cm for the Ejagham females. More so, Mean canthal index for both males and females was 29.80 and 28.55, respectively. The data shows that all the canthal dimensions as well as the canthal index of Ejagham males were higher than that of Ejagham females (p<0.05) using t-Test. This study will be useful inbioanthropology, forensic medicine and in craniofacial surgery.