Validating Paediatric Morphometrics: body proportion measurement using photogrammetric anthropometry

Abstract

Background: Taking multiple anthropometric measurements for the description of body proportions in an accurate way is a time-consuming procedure that requires specific tools and skills. This is why we developed an alternative method based on digital photography for taking these measurements which is faster and easier to use, to make anthropometry more user-friendly and approachable to paediatricians.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 54 children between 2 and 18 years of age. We compared manual measurements with photogrammetric measurements to validate our method.

Results: Inter-observer correlations of all measurements are ≥0.96 and mean differences are 0.3-0.9 cm, except for arm span. Comparison of manual to photogrammetric measurements shows mean differences of 0.6-1.3 cm, with correlations ≥0.92, except for sitting height and arm span. Correlations of ratios between methods are height/sitting height (r=0.77), biacromium/biiliacum (r=0.74) and subischial leg length/sitting height (r=0.75).

Conclusion: Photogrammetric anthropometry is faster, easier to use and provides the paediatrician with more flexibility as taking the digital photographs and performing the analysis are separated.