Comparative study of two skeletal maturation evaluation indexes

Abstract

Purpose: The present work consists of a comparative study of two indexes of skeletal maturation: the carpal index (SMI) and the vertebral index (CVMI) and verification of the reliability of the vertebral index in the determination of the stages of the skeletal maturation.Methods: Radiographies from the dental records of treated patients from Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL) were used. The sample was composed of 158 radiographies comprising seventy-nine carpal and seventy-nine lateral cephalometric radiographies of patients of both genders between six and eighteen of age. The carpal radiographies were analyzed using Martins' method and the lateral cephalometric, according to Baccetti, Franchi and McNamara Jr.Results: The Spearman's correlation test results showed a significant correlation coefficient of 0.616 between SMI and CVMI and the Pearson's test, of 0.698 for both genders (P<0.0001). The correlation between the indexes and the chronological age was 0.775 for SMI using Spearman's test, and 0.974 using Pearson's correlation test. For the CVMI, Spearman's correlation was 0.563 and Pearson's was 0.717, showing that there is a statistically significant correlation.Conclusion: The SMI is the safest and most trustworthy method to evaluate the skeletal maturation, although the CVMI can be used as a substitute method when there is conversance with the morphologic alterations of the vertebrae and when the carpal radiography is not available in the patient's orthodontic records.

Validity of the assessment method of skeletal maturation by cervical vertebrae: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…It is important to stress the care that must be taken while applying the results presented in this systematic review, for although 14 [1][2][3][4][5]7,8,13,15,16,[18][19][20][21] out of the 19 articles selected had received a score of either 9 or 10 (high quality), most of them work with convenience samples. Another limitation concerns the cutbacks of articles, considering that there are almost no studies with longitudinal assessment.…”

“…From the 19 articles included in this study, most of them 1,2,5,6,8,9,14,15,17,[19][20][21][22] did not perform interexaminer statistical tests. However, in cases when this test was applied, the results showed significant correlations.…”

“…3,8 Yet, several authors [5][6][7]15,16,[18][19][20][21] mention that the visualization of the vertebrae by orthodontists is more easily performed owing to the familiarity of these professionals with this type of radiograph.…”

Reliability, efficacy and reproducibility of the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI)

“…Several authors (DAMIAN et al, 2006;KAMAL et al, 2006;JOSHI et al, 2010;MAYARÍ and LUGO, 2010;WARMELING et al, 2010;MARTINS et al, 2011;ALTAN et al, 2012;MAHAJAN, 2012;MAYARÍ, 2012;PRASAD et al, 2013) have made estimates of skeletal growth potential by assessing CV radiographically and comparing the data obtained to that retrieved from hand-wrist films. While not all papers from our sample verified the reliability of methods that estimate skeletal maturation based on CV assessments, most authors agreed that different CV evaluation methods can deliver satisfactory and sufficiently reliable estimates of the degree of skeletal maturation.…”

“…Thus, additional films and consequent exposure to radiation (handwrist radiograph) are waived (DAMIAN et al, 2006;KAMAL et al, 2006;MOSCATIELLO et al, 2008;MAYARI;LUGO, 2010;WARMELING et al, 2010;JOSHI et al, 2011;MARTINS et al, 2011;ALTAN et al, 2012;PRASAD et al, 2013). However, the greatest challenge in using CV as an indicator of skeletal maturation seems to be the correct staging described by Hassel and Farman (1995).…”