Trunk and craniofacial asymmetry are not associated in the general population: a cross-sectional study of 1029 adolescents

Background: The literature did not show clearly if a correlation between trunk and facial asymmetry exists. The aim of this study was to verify the association between trunk and facial asymmetries, and trunk and facial sagittal configuration in adolescents. Methods: This is a cross-sectional screening study. It was carried out in a small town in Northern Italy, from February to April 2014. Healthy children met the inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were subjects with physical and cognitive disability, genetic disease, and polymorphism. All subjects underwent a three phases for postural screening program. Results: 1029 healthy children were 491 females and 538 males with mean age: 12 (range 11-16) years. The association of facial and trunk asymmetry had a point prevalence rate around 1% for the various regions of the spine, the association on the sagittal plane of almost 1.3% for hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis. Overall, results showed a very low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of facial anomalies for trunk asymmetry and sagittal spinal posture. Conclusion: While correlations between jaw position and body posture for cervical spine can exist, our study denied association with trunk and back in a general population: postural compensatory mechanism may have minimized the effects of one area on the other, if any existed.