Longitudinal maxillary growth in Down syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess maxillary growth in a sample of patients diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample comprised 47 subjects (25 boys, 22 girls) with DS. All patients had at least two radiographs that showed the cranial base. To obtain comparisons among age groups, the sample was divided into three groups: prepubescent (8-11 years old), pubescent (12-14 years old), and postpubescent (15-18 years old). A control group included 38 subjects without DS (22 boys, 16 girls) who were part of a longitudinal growth sample. Computerized cephalometric analysis was performed on all subjects, and cephalometric superimpositions were made. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to study the overall changes between groups. In addition, one-way ANOVA and the Duncan multiple-range test were used to analyze possible differences in the age groups.

RESULTS

Sagittal maxillary growth in DS patients was constant from the age of 8 to 18 years; there was an average increase of 0.12 mm/year, measured at the level of point A. In the vertical plane it grows at an average rate of 0.62 mm/year and 0.70 mm/year, measured at the level of the ANS and PNS, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The maxilla in the DS group shows hypoplasia in the vertical plane and the sagittal plane, and there was a mean deficit of almost 10 mm in the latter.