Damian Verma1, Timo Peltomäki, Andreas Jäger. 1. Department of Orthodontics, University of Bonn, Welschnonnenstr. 17, 53111, Bonn, Germany. verma@uni-bonn.de
Abstract
AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether growth increments of the mandibular ramus in the vertical direction can be predicted using cephalometric variables in combination with a hand-wrist radiograph. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our data comprised cephalograms taken at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of orthodontic treatment, and hand-wrist radiographs taken at T1 of 49 adolescent patients with a Class I malocclusion. Cephalograms were scanned and analyzed with the aid of a computer. Relative growth increments (in %) of body height and different cephalometric variables during the observation period were recorded. Growth changes were compared statistically to each other and to the growth prediction assessed with the hand-wrist radiograph according to Greulich and Pyle (GPP). Stepwise linear regression (SPSS®) was used to statistically analyze the impact of gender, age, body height, growth prediction as assessed with a hand-wrist radiograph, and cephalometric variables at T1 on changes in the increase in the height of the mandibular ramus. RESULTS: Growth prediction assessed via hand-wrist radiographs at the beginning of treatment did not enable a reliable prediction of the remaining vertical growth of the mandibular ramus. Only the patient's gender and height of the mandibular ramus at the beginning of treatment had a statistical impact on growth changes in the ramus height that occurred during the observation period. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the vertical growth potential of the mandibular ramus cannot be predicted by analyzing hand-wrist radiographs or by evaluating cephalometric variables other than the initial mandibular ramus height.
AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether growth increments of the mandibular ramus in the vertical direction can be predicted using cephalometric variables in combination with a hand-wrist radiograph. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our data comprised cephalograms taken at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of orthodontic treatment, and hand-wrist radiographs taken at T1 of 49 adolescent patients with a Class I malocclusion. Cephalograms were scanned and analyzed with the aid of a computer. Relative growth increments (in %) of body height and different cephalometric variables during the observation period were recorded. Growth changes were compared statistically to each other and to the growth prediction assessed with the hand-wrist radiograph according to Greulich and Pyle (GPP). Stepwise linear regression (SPSS®) was used to statistically analyze the impact of gender, age, body height, growth prediction as assessed with a hand-wrist radiograph, and cephalometric variables at T1 on changes in the increase in the height of the mandibular ramus. RESULTS: Growth prediction assessed via hand-wrist radiographs at the beginning of treatment did not enable a reliable prediction of the remaining vertical growth of the mandibular ramus. Only the patient's gender and height of the mandibular ramus at the beginning of treatment had a statistical impact on growth changes in the ramus height that occurred during the observation period. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the vertical growth potential of the mandibular ramus cannot be predicted by analyzing hand-wrist radiographs or by evaluating cephalometric variables other than the initial mandibular ramus height.