Relationship between Cervical Vertebral Maturation and Spheno-occipital Synchondrosis Closure

Introduction: Increased growth in three-dimensional imaging has created the opportunity for alternative measures of growth assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) method and closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) in children and young adults using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Two hundred and seventy-five extended field CBCT scans of patients aged 6-30 years were analyzed. The cervical vertebrae maturity was assessed using the CVM method. The closure of the SOS was evaluated using a five-stage scoring system. Correlation and agreement between CVM and fusion of the SOS were analyzed for statistical significance. Results: A strong significant correlation (r s = 0.908; 95% confidence interval: 0.885, 0.927) was found between cervical vertebrae maturational status and the closure of the SOS. Based on the variables assessed, an ordinal regression model was constructed to predict cervical stage, to which age, gender, and SOS closure were statistically significant. Conclusion: This pilot investigation demonstrated that the maturation stage of the SOS, as determined using CBCT, is a potential indicator for skeletal maturity assessment.