KHẢO SÁT SỰ TRƯỞNG THÀNH ĐƯỜNG KHỚP GIỮA KHẨU CÁI TRÊN PHIM CHỤP CẮT LỚP VI TÍNH (CT) Ở TRẺ EM 8 ĐẾN 15 TUỔI

Abstract

Introduction: The success of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) depends on the maturation status of the mid-palatal suture (MPS). This study aimed to evaluate the maturation of the MPS in children aged 8–15 years using computed tomography (CT).

Methods: One hundred CT scans of patients aged 8 to 15 years were analyzed. MPS maturation was classified into five stages (A–E) and assessed across three age groups (8–9, 10–12, and 13–15 years) and by sex. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate differences in stage proportions between males and females and across age groups, and to assess the correlation between suture maturation stage and age.

Results: Open midpalatal sutures (stages A, B, C) were observed in 90% of cases, whereas partially or completely ossified sutures (stages D, E) accounted for 10%. Stage B was the most prevalent (41%), followed by stage C (35%) and stage A (14%). MPS maturation demonstrated a statistically significant moderate positive correlation with age (Spearman’s ρ = 0.43, p < 0.001). The prevalence of stages A–C decreased progressively with increasing age and tended to occur earlier in females; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The high proportion of open MPS in the 8-15-year age group indicates favorable conditions for conventional rapid palatal expansion in this age group among the Vietnamese population.