Features of facial scull growth

Purpose. Conducting an analysis of CBCT data from patients who applied to the clinic of the First St. Petersburg State Medical University, as well as replenishment of the anthropometric data base.

Materials and methods. The indicators of 160 patients aged from 18 to 77 years were considered, including 73 men and 87 women. The following parameters were taken into account: age, gender, angle of deviation of the nasal septum, type of deformation, depth of the palatal vault, palatal interalveolar length, angle of the mandible on each side. Means and standard deviations were calculated for each cephalometric variable. When comparing, anthropometric parameters were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test (p value <0.05).

Results. There was no correlation between the angle of deviation of the nasal septum and the severity of changes in the facial skeleton. A directly proportional relationship was observed between the following parameters: palatal interalveolar distance and age, mandibular angle and age. It was noted that in females the increase in the angle of the lower jaw with age was more pronounced. With a mixed type of deformity, a more pronounced rank correlation between age and palatal interalveolar length (0.30) was observed, compared to other types of deformities. The distribution of different types of nasal septum deformity in our sample was assessed. The prevalence of individual types within mixed deformity was also assessed.

Conclusion. The lack of correlation between the angle of deviation of the nasal septum and the severity of skeletal changes indicates that the key to the quality of nasal breathing is not the absolute value of the curvature, but the localization and form of the deviation. The identified dependence of changes in skeletal parameters on age and gender in our sample expanded the base of modern anthropometric data and made it possible to determine directions for further research.