Do changes in spheno-occipital synchondrosis after rapid maxillary expansion affect the maxillomandibular complex?

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ABSTRACT

Aim

This was to evaluate changes in spheno-occipital synchondrosis one year after rapid maxillary expansion
(RME), in order to assess the influence that any change might have on sagittal and vertical skeletal cephalometric variables.

Methods

Patients were selected consecutively and grouped into: Group 1 comprised 30 Caucasian
patients (13 m; 17 f) undergoing RME therapy; after active expansion therapy, the Haas expander was worn as passive
retainer for an average of 7 months. Group 2 as control included 14 untreated subjects (6 m, 8 f), matched by age, sex and
vertebral skeletal maturity (CVM method, stages 1-3). Six cephalometric variables concerning spheno-occipital
synchondrosis were studied: N-S-Ba; SOS-Ba; SOS-S; S-Ba; Ba-N; S-N; nine skeletal variables for sagittal and vertical
evaluation were also checked. T-test was used for comparing the 2 groups data.

Results

A statistically-significant opening
of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis and increase of the posterior cranial base length (Ba-SOS) were found between
group 1 and 2. After 1 year, these modifications in spheno-occipital syncondrosis produced no change in the
anteroposterior or vertical skeletal parameters examined.

Conclusion

After RME there were statisticallysignificant effects
on spheno-occipital synchondrosis length and cranial base angle; however, these changes in the mid-term did not affect
the vertical or sagittal parameters of the skeletal maxillomandibular complex.

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