A Novel Formula Based Model for Predicting Skeletal Maturation in Maharashtra.

AIM: To develop and validate a reliable, objective method for cervical vertebral bone age (CVBA) estimation using lateral cephalograms in a Maharashtrian population.

METHODS

Gender-specific formulae for cervical vertebral bone age estimation were derived via stepwise regression using C3/C4 measurements from lateral cephalograms of 1000 participants 1000 participants (500M/500F, 9-20 years). Formulae were validated on an independent sample (100M/100F). Hand-wrist radiographs were assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) method. CVBA, TW3 bone age, and chronological age were compared using ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Pearson correlation.

RESULT: Gender-specific CVBA formulae were generated. No significant differences were found between CVBA, TW3 bone age, and chronological age for males (P=0.393) or females (P=0.656). High correlations existed between CVBA, TW3 bone age, and chronological age.

CONCLUSION

The derived formulae are valid and reliable for objective assessment of cervical vertebral bone age and skeletal maturation using lateral cephalograms in the studied Maharashtrian population.