Anthropometric study of the upper lip of 1500 healthy children in Chengdu, Western China

The aim of this study was to measure and analyse morphological data about the upper lips of healthy children in Chengdu, Western China. The characteristics and patterns of growth and development of the upper lip may be helpful in guiding the treatment of cleft lip. A total of 1500 healthy children aged between 2 and 12 were divided into 11 groups according to their age. Seven points on the upper lip were measured directly: the length from the alar base to the commissure, the length of the philtrum, the length from the tip of the Cupid's bow to the commissure, the width of one limb of the Cupid's bow, the length from the alar base to the central columella, the area of the unilateral upper lip, and the angle of the line of the alar base to the commissure and the line of the tip of the Cupid's bow to the commissure. Five aspects were significantly different among the groups: the length from the alar base to the commissure (p = 0.04), the length from the tip of the Cupid's bow to the commissure (p = 0.02), the width of the upper lip (p = 0.02), the area adjacent to the lip (p = 0.03), and the area of the unilateral upper lip (p = 0.04). These data may be useful for reference to cleft lip repair.