Study on Nasal Columellar Length and Columellar-Lobular Angle with Photographic and Computer Aided Technique for Gender Identification

Introduction: Nasal angles and facial features like mouth dimensions, eyeball projection have been studied by various authors; however, it is also important to understand individual, racial and ethnic variations of nasal columellar length and columellar-lobular angle in order to aid forensic investigations. Hence the present study was taken up with the aim to determine nasal columellar length and columellar-lobular angle of Tamil ethnic group; and also to statistically analyse gender difference in findings.

Methods: The study, approved by Institutional Ethics Committee, was done on 118 Tamil speaking students of a medical college in Tamil Nadu. Consenting Tamil speaking students were included. Individuals with noticeable facial disfigurement and with history of previous facial surgery were excluded.

Results: Gender difference in Columellar-lobular angle was significant at p<0.05 with the statistical tests. Mean Columellar-lobular angle in males, females, and of the study population was 35.2, 31.3, and 32.7 degrees respectively. Mean columellar length of the study population was 12.8mm. Gender difference in columellar length was insignificant at p<0.05 with the statistical tests.

Conclusion: It was concluded that Columellar-lobular angle of ‘greater than 38.3 degrees’ is male; and ‘lesser than 27.8’ is female. Values between 27.8 and 38.3 degrees were concluded as dimorphic.