J Craniofac Surg. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000012595. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine variations in the morphology of the sphenoid ridge (SR) between individuals with trisomy 21 (T21) and healthy controls.
METHODS: The work included computed tomography scans from 45 patients with T21 (mean age: 9.40±3.87 y) and 45 healthy controls (mean age: 8.56±4.87 y). Measurements were taken for SR in terms of its length (LSR), angle (ASR), lateral tip width (WL), and midline width (WML). ASR was categorized as follows: Type A for values >130 degrees, Type B for values between 110 and 130 degrees, and Type C for values <110 degrees.
RESULTS: In the T21 group, LSR, ASR, WL, and WML were measured as 40.07±3.83 mm, 119.58±10.08 degrees, 2.65±0.90 mm, and 9.09±2.45 mm, respectively. In controls, LSR, ASR, WL, and WML were measured as 42.28±4.26 mm, 122.50±8.67 degrees, 2.62±0.80 mm, and 7.95±2.08 mm, respectively. LSR (P<0.001) and ASR (P=0.039) were found to be smaller in individuals with T21 compared with the control group. WML was greater in T21 than controls (P=0.019), but WL was statistically similar in both groups (P=0.812). The comparison of ASR configurations between the T21 group (types A: 8.9%, B: 76.7%, and C: 14.4%) and the control group (types A: 17.8%, B: 72.2%, and C: 10%) indicated no significant association between T21 and this classification (P=0.173).
CONCLUSION: LSR and ASR could correspond to anterior fossa width and middle fossa depth, respectively. As a result, patients with T21 tend to have a narrower anterior fossa and a shallow middle fossa.
PMID:41911572 | DOI:10.1097/SCS.0000000000012595
