Correlation of skeletal development and midpalatal suture maturation

The aim of our study is to determine the relationship between MPS maturation and CVM stage determined from CBCTs. CBCT images of 130 individuals (75 females, 55 males) with a mean age of 15.04 ± 3.11 (9.56–25.05 years) were analyzed. Images were analyzed using the i-CAT Vision software program. The cephalometric images to be examined were also obtained from the same CBCT images with the ImageJ program. The correlation between MPS and CVM stages was evaluated using the Spearman correlation test. The relationship between the skeletal developmental stage and MPS maturation, as assessed by the CVM method, was evaluated with the positive likelihood ratio. Significant correlations were found between CVM and MPS maturation stages. Positive LHR values of cervical vertebral stages were obtained to define the maturation stages of the midpalatal suture. LHR values greater than ten were found between CS2, CS5, and CS6 and maturation stages B, D, and E, respectively. A 15–30% correlation was observed between CS3 and CS4 maturation stages B and C, respectively. A positive correlation of 15% was found between CS3 and stage C. MPS fusion is more likely to occur after CS4. The correlation between the CVM and MPS maturation stages is significant (r = 0.858). CVM stages CS2, CS4, and CS6 can be a preliminary indicator for MPS stages B, D, and E, respectively. CS5 shows that MPS fusion has occurred partially or completely. A significant relationship exists between skeletal developmental stages and suture maturation.