Facial anthropometry in newborns in Pondicherry.

Two hundred term healthy neonates were examined and 14 anthropometric measurements were taken in the face and ear region. Difference between the sexes was observed in ear length, ear breadth, and philtrum. Significant correlation was found between ear placement and ear length; and outer and inner canthal distances (p less than 0.001). The paper provides baselines data for facial growth measurements and discusses the utility of these measurements in detecting dysmorphogenesis in neonates.