Craniofacial measurements in children with sella turcica shape’s anomalies

Abstract

The objective of the study is to evaluate the cephalometric measurements of Tunisian children who presented sella turcica’s (ST) shape anomalies. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2019 in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Monastir and Faculty of Dentistry of Tunisia. Radiographs were gathered from patients aged between 7 and 12 years old (n = 104) who had consulted for a malocclusion. The inclusion criteria were considered as follows: Good visibility of anatomic structures and absence of congenital craniofacial deformities. We excluded bad radiographs with errors and discrepancies: Double limits, deformities as well as children having hereditary craniofacial anomalies and underlying diseases. The cephalometric analysis was conducted according to Segner and Hassund’s method. ST’s shape was identified according to Axelsson’s classification modified by Becktor. The sample size was divided into groups: Group 1 with normal ST’s shape and Group 2 with sella’s anomaly. Statistics were performed using IBM SPSS STATISTICS 22. Data normality has been tested using Shapiro–Wilk test. The normality of variance was investigated too with Levene’s test, and comparison of means between groups was performed with t-test. The prevalence of aberrations of ST’s form in Tunisian children is about 59.6%. The inclination of upper incisors to the maxilla differed in children with ST’s anomaly compared to normal kids. Children with sella aberration are characterized by retroclination of upper incisors to the maxilla. The variables which showed a statistically significant relationship between abnormalities of ST and cephalometric measurements were 1+NA with P = 0.03 and NL-NSL with P = 0.04. The prevalence of ST’s shape anomalies in Tunisian children is about two-thirds. It seems that the anomaly of ST influences the position of the maxilla to the cranial base and the position of upper incisors to the maxilla.