Assessment of the skeletal maturation of cervical vertebrae and hand wrist in relation to chronological age among a sample of Egyptian adolescents

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the relation between the three maturity indicators (CVMI, MP3, SMI) and the chronologic age in Egyptian adolescents. Lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist radiographs of 20 females and 15 males ranging from ages 9 to14 years were collected. The cervical vertebrae (C2, C3, and C4) outlines were traced from the lateral cephalograms and analyzed using the CVMI according to the method used by Hassel and Farman and the hand wrist MP3 indicators and Fishman's SMI indicators were used to assess the skeletal maturity of the subject. Results showed a strong correlation between the three methods of maturity indicators, however the correlation was stronger in the female sample. The chronological age was correlated with the maturity indicators except with Fishman's SMI stages in males. Results also showed that males tend to show early stages of maturity indicators in this age group however females showed all stages of maturity in this age group (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). It was concluded that females tend to achieve higher percentage of their skeletal growth than Egyptian Orthodontic Journal 2 Volume 33 -June 2008 males especially before 11.5 years and MP3 maturity indicators are more informative of the skeletal maturity in the Egyptian females. CVMI are more informative for the Egyptian males skeletal maturity.