Diagnostic efficacy of novel cephalometric parameters for the assessment of vertical skeletal dysplasia

Background. An accurate diagnosis of vertical skeletal abnormalities presents several challenges. Specific cephalometric parameters can be effectively used for this purpose; however, the diagnostic accuracy of these parameters has not been entirely ascertained. This study examines the effectiveness of two novel cephalometric parameters for diagnosing vertical dysplasia.

Methods. In this retrospective study, orthodontic patients were distributed into three study groups: average growth (AGG), horizontal growth (HGG), and vertical growth (VGG). The efficacies of the sum of angles (maxillary, mandibular, and ramal) and the height ratio (lower anterior facial height [LAFH]/upper anterior facial height [UAFH]) in identifying different growth patterns were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to assess the diagnostic precision quantitatively.

Results. A total of 150 patients were included and divided equally among the three study groups. The ramal and mandibular angles varied across AGG, HGG, and VGG; however, the maxillary angle and the sum of these three angles did not vary significantly. There was a substantial variance in LAHF, UAHF, and their ratio in the three groups. The height ratio had 88% and 92% sensitivity to diagnose VGG and HGG, with cut-off values of 46 and 34, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion. Height ratio values varied considerably depending on the facial growth patterns, suggesting its efficacy as a diagnostic tool for skeletal dysplasia, with greater reliability for positive treatment outcomes.