Predictability of Craniofacial Skeletal Age with Geometric Morphometries.

Aim: This study aims to estimate skeletal age of craniofacial shape obtained from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-defined facial and basicranial landmarks using geometric morphometrics method in a random sample of growing patients, and explore the correlation between craniofacial shape and skeletal age as determined from hand and wrist radiograph.

Materials And Methods: Generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) of craniofacial shape with estimation of centroid size was performed on CBCTs of 48 growing patients (mean age 11.7 ± 1.5 years). Greulich and Pyle method for skeletal age assessment were used for correlation with centroid size. Correlation among the variables relied on Pearson's coefficient and its 95% confidence interval was estimated. The model's R was calculated, (Cook's distances, Mahalanobis distances, leverage values, and studentized residuals) and multiple regression analysis performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.

Results: Mean skeletal age was 11.9 ± 2.4 years. Centroid size (151.5 ± 7.2) was significantly correlated with chronological age (R = 0.616, 95% CI 0.355-0.789, p < 0.01) and skeletal age (R = 0.605, 95 % CI 0.331-0.794, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: A new equation for determining craniofacial skeletal age was developed, using the centroid size of the craniofacial frame, gender, and the known chronological age.

Clinical Significance: A CBCT may be used for skeletal age assessment without additional hand wrist radiograph.