Validity and Reliability of Assessment of Cervical Vertebrae on Lateral Cephalograms―A Review

Knowledge of timing and duration of the adolescent growth spurt is essential to treat skeletal jaw discrepancies in the growing child. The purpose of this review of literature was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the maturational stages of the cervical vertebrae C2, C3 & C4 as seen on lateral cephalograms in the prediction of peak pubertal growth spurt.Literature review purported that cervical vertebral maturity indicators were effective in assessing the circumpubertal growth spurt. The drawbacks of this method of assessment was that it evaluated the skeletal maturity at one point of time and that it failed to pinpoint the peak in mandibular growth. It also did not specify the intensity and amount of residual growth left,factors deemed importantfor implementing orthopedic therapy.