Pharyngeal airway dimensions: a cephalometric, growth-study-based analysis of physiological variations in children aged 6-17

作者：Mislik Barbara; Haenggi Michael P; Signorelli Luca; Peltomaki Timo A; Patcas Raphael^*

来源：The European Journal of Orthodontics, 2014, 36(3): 331-339.

DOI：10.1093/ejo/cjt068

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess pharyngeal airway dimensions and physiological changes based on lateral cephalometric radiographs from healthy untreated children aged 6-17 years. %26lt;br%26gt;MATERIALS/METHODS: The sample consisted of 880 lateral cephalograms (412 females and 468 males) of the Zurich Craniofacial Growth Study. Statistical analyses on cephalometric measurements of airway dimensions (distances %26apos;p%26apos;: shortest distance between soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall and %26apos;t%26apos;: shortest distance between tongue and posterior pharyngeal wall) and craniofacial parameters were performed. To disclose differences between different age groups, a Kruskal-Wallis test was applied. The influence of gender on %26apos;p%26apos; and %26apos;t%26apos; was analysed by a Mann-Whitney U-test for each age group separately. The Spearman correlation was computed in order to investigate associations between craniofacial parameters. Variables associated with %26apos;p%26apos; and %26apos;t%26apos; were chosen for multiple regression model investigation. %26lt;br%26gt;RESULTS: The results demonstrated high interindividual variations. A slight influence of age on %26apos;p%26apos; (P = 0.034) could be attested (+1.03 mm) but not on %26apos;t%26apos; (P = 0.208). With the exception of the 9-year age group, no significant differences between the genders were found. Correlation analysis revealed several statistically significant correlations between %26apos;t%26apos; or %26apos;p%26apos; and antero-posterior cephalometric variables. All correlation coefficients were, however, very low and the adjusted coefficient of determination also revealed the regression model to be very weak. %26lt;br%26gt;CONCLUSION: The high interindividual variations of %26apos;p%26apos; and %26apos;t%26apos; render the use of reference values problematic. Contrary to other craniofacial structures, neither age-related changes nor sexual dimorphism were found for %26apos;p%26apos; and %26apos;t%26apos;. Any associations to antero-posterior cephalometric characteristics seem low.

• 出版日期2014-6