[Study on the maturation of cervical vertebra for 208 cases Shanghai adolescents growth]

OBJECTIVE:To establish a set of normal values of maturation stages of cervical vertebra for Shanghai adolescents and to provide valid reference index for assessing skeletal age while making diagnosis and treatment plan.METHODS:208 Shanghai adolescents from 11 to 15 years of age were investigated by lateral cephalometric radiographs. The growth status and the relationship of C2-C5 cervical vertebra were observed. RESULTS:The anterior and posterior vertical heights and areas of C2-C5 cervical vertebra increased progressively along with the age, the shapes of cervical vertebra bodies varied regularly. Although female goes into the young quick growing period 2 years earlier than male, the shape changes have no difference between gender. The established standard values of maturation stages of cervical vertebra for Shanghai 11-15 years old adolescents revealed that the growth and development of Shanghai adolescents are getting earlier when comparing with that of GuangDong province. CONCLUSION: The morphological variation of cervical vertebra can be used as an indicator of skeletal age to determine adolescents' growth and development status.