Correlation of spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion stages with a hand-wrist skeletal maturity index: A cone beam computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVES To examine the correlation between spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion stages and the hand-wrist skeletal maturity index. MATERIALS AND METHODS Digital records of 164 individuals (77 males, 87 females) aged 10 to 18 years old were examined. Three-dimensional CBCT scans and hand-wrist two-dimensional radiographs were scored for the spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion stages and hand-wrist skeletal maturity index, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed for associations using R software with a significance threshold of P< .01. RESULTS A significant positive relationship was demonstrated between spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion stages and hand-wrist skeletal maturity in both sexes. The Kendall's rank correlation τ between hand-wrist skeletal maturity index and spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion percentage were high and positive in males and females (r = .74 and r = .71, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The significant, positive relationship between the hand-wrist skeletal maturity index and spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion stages support the idea of using spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion as a biological indicator for craniofacial and mandibular growth spurt prediction.