title: Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis Fusion Correlates with Cervical Vertebrae Maturation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the closure stage of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis and the maturational stage of the cervical vertebrae (CVM) in growing and young adult subjects using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT images with an extended field of view obtained from 315 participants (148 females and 167 males; mean age 15.6 ±7.3 years; range 6 to 23 years) were analyzed. The fusion status of the synchondrosis was determined using a five-stage scoring system; the vertebral maturational status was evaluated using a six-stage stratification (CVM method). Ordinal regression was used to study the ability of the synchondrosis stage to predict the vertebral maturation stage. Vertebrae and synchondrosis had a strong significant correlation (r = 0.89) that essential was similar for females (r = 0.88) and males (r = 0.89). CVM stage could be accurately predicted from synchondrosis stage by ordinal regression models. Prediction equations of the vertebral stage using synchondrosis stage, sex and biological age as predictors were developed. Thus this investigation demonstrated that the stage of spheno-occipital synchondrosis, as determined in CBCT images, is a reasonable indicator of growth maturation.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: María José
authors: MJ
authors: Fernández-Pérez
authors: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: José Antonio
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3977-476X
authors: JA
authors: Alarcón
authors: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: McNamara
authors: Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Velasco-Torres
authors: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Benavides
authors: Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Galindo-Moreno
authors: Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Catena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult