Craniofacial features of children with spinal deformities

The literature exploring the reasons for the development of malocclusions concentrates very much on the connections to the different postural anomalies. Those postural anomalies are mainly highlighted which could contribute to the development of the different dentofacial anomalies and later to the sustenance thereof by their chronic influence on the head posture [1, 2]. Thus, those orthopedic disorders become very important that mainly become manifest in pathological curves of the spine [3]. According to literature sources, the frequency of various malocclusions in the orthopedic patient group amounts to 83–87% [4].

The role of the head posture that is tilted forwards and backwards evolved as a consequence of the pathological curves of the sagittal plane (kyphosis and lordosis) which were mainly examined within the framework of the study of the development of the sagittal and vertical jaw anomalies [5‐10]. In their opinion, the scoliotic curves occurred in the frontal plane – through the head posture that is tilted sideways – and played an important role in the development of the different dentofacial asymmetries [9]. The alteration of the head posture may lead to the development of TMJ dysfunction and TMJ structural deformity [11]. Because of their similar epidemiologic characteristics – incidence, stability of the developed deformations, time of appearance – the two spinal diseases which are considered as the most appropriate in terms of the examinations are the Scheuermann's disease (or kyphosis dorsalis juvenilis) and the idiopathic scoliosis [12]. The occurrence of the Scheuermann's disease varies between 0.4 and 11%. The pathological kyphotic curvature which is liable for the head posture tilted forward and hunchbacked appearance is primarily pronounced and stabilized in the dorsal spinal region. Its development begins during pre-puberty and is not characterized by gender deflection [13‐15]. The frequency of the idiopathic scoliosis alters between 11.9 and 16.2%. The main curvature may be localized in any part of the vertebral column, the most common being the right convex dorsalis scoliosis which – in the non-compensated forms – induces the head posture to be tilted to the left. Its development starts during the pre-puberty, and – as regards the gender distribution – it occurs 7–10 times more often in girls than in boys [13, 16, 17]. The conservative treatment in the early stage of both spinal diseases consists in posture strengthening and the improvement of the muscle tone by physical therapy, while in late, severe stages of the disease, it is necessary to wear a corset. The reason for this is the deformed vertebra's malformation stage in the case of Scheuermann's disease, while in patients with scoliosis the Cobb value of more than 20 degrees warrants the corset [16, 18]. However, the severe deterioration cannot be improved by the conservative treatments but only with the help of surgical interventions.

We performed the orthodontic examination on children suffering from Scheuermann's kyphosis and from idiopathic scoliosis in order to collect data for further related studies. Based on the results we wanted to get a more accurate image of the craniofacial characteristics, the functional habits and the occlusal patterns of patient groups with spinal deformities in the sagittal and frontal plane. The patients participating in the epidemiological survey received detailed information on the examinations in advance; their parents provided their written consent to the performance thereof. The examinations complied with the requirements of the local Ethics Committee.

The sagittal abnormalities in the posterior region were examined by studying the molar relations. The unilateral and bilateral neutral occlusions, the distal occlusions and the mesial occlusions were registered separately [Table 1]. When analyzing the sagittal deviations in the molar region the incidence rate of the bilateral deviation being present as a sign of symmetry as well as of the unilateral deviation relating to the asymmetry has significant importance. The bilateral normocclusions were present in the CTRL group in the greatest proportion (64.68%) and the lowest (47.74%) in the MSCH group. In the case of maloccusions the frequency of the bilateral distal occlusion was twice higher in the MSCH group than the registered values of the SC group. Unilateral deviation was characteristic for almost one-third of both patient groups, while in the CTRL group the incidence rate was hardly 8.82%. In the patient groups the unilateral deviations were exclusively distal occlusions, while in the CTRL group the unilateral distal and mesial occlusions were present in the same proportion. The sagittal deviations in the frontal region were recorded by measuring the overjet of the incisors. The two examined groups possessed higher mean values compared to the determined mean value (2.21 mm) of the CTRL group. The mean values in the MSCH group were significantly higher than those of the SC group [Figure 3]. Having examined the repartition within the groups, the groups with severe spinal disease were found to be characterized by essentially higher deviations [Table 2]. Apart from the normal overjet, the cases representing an extreme overjet of ≥ 6 mm and a frontal crossbite were recorded separately. In the patient groups the frontal crossbite was not registered. Examining the values of the extreme overjet, we found that the significantly higher incidence rate and the average occurrence are characteristic for the MSCH group.

Among the sagittal and skeletal parameters, the mean values of both patient groups can be found within the deviation range determined by Ricketts – both in respect of the maxillary depth and the ramus position. In view of the maxillary depth the mean values are higher than the normal ones (90 ± 3°), while in the case of ramus position they were lower (76 ± 3°) [Table 3].

Examining the data of the vertical abnormalities, there were no detectable posterior open bite cases; in order to determine the vertical anomalies of the frontal region the registered data of the normal overbite, the deep bite of ≥ 5 mm, and the open bite of ≥ 0 mm were used. The MSCH group was characterized by higher, while the SC group by lower overbite mean values compared to the determined mean values (3.10 mm) of the CTRL group [Figure 4]. Having examined the repartition within the groups, those with severe spinal disease were characterized by greater deviations in the MSCH group only [Table 2]. In the MSCH group, the frequency of the deep bite cases was higher, while the majority of the frontal open bite cases were registered in the SC group. In the case of the CTRL group the high incidence rate of the normal overbite and the lower rate of the deep bite as well as the lack of the open bite cases are striking.

The mean value of the three examined skeletal parameters with a vertical direction was lower than the normal values according to Ricketts. The facial axis values of the MSCH group were lower than the ones of SC group; in both patient groups, the measured values differentiated from the normal values concomitantly to the severity of the orthopedic malformation (90 ± 3°). This tendency was not characteristic in the case of values related to the lower facial height and the mandibular plane. In both cases, the values of the SC group showed a higher deviation from the normal values – lower facial height (47.0 ± 4°), mandibular plane (27.2 ± 4.5°) [Table 3].

The study of the occlusal anomalies characteristic to the studied groups was finalized with the analysis of the transversal relations. One child in the MSCH group and three children in the SC group were registered with a unilateral crossbite and there were 1-1 bilateral crossbites in both groups. In the CTRL group two bilateral crossbite cases matched three unilateral crossbite cases. The evaluation of the records of the frontal region gave a better picture. Comparable to the upper midline's deviation, the lower midline's deviation from the facial midline was more frequent in the MSCH group than in the SC group. The higher number of midline deviations was characteristic for the MSCH group; however the SC group was found to have higher deviation mean values. Having examined the repartition within the groups the midline deviation cases occurred three times more in the groups with severe type of spinal disease than in the group with moderate type of spinal disease. Regarding the degree of the deviation the severe type of SC group was characterized by significantly higher values compared to the CTRL group [Table 2]. Beside a similar manifestation frequency the CTRL group had lower deviation mean values in contrast to the patient groups.

The evaluation of the space anomalies in the jaws included the recording of the crowding and spacing in the upper and lower frontal regions. With almost equivalent crowding and upper spacing values, the occurrence of the spacing in the lower region showed a significant deviation, being lower in the CTRL group.

The clinical examination of the TMJ at almost a quarter of the SC group revealed a pathological symptom as opposed to group MSCH where only 4.34% had an abnormality. Some pathological symptoms were found in a relatively low proportion (7.35%) in the CTRL group. The study of the mandibular lateral movement showed three significantly different movement ranges in the spinal-disorder groups and the control group [Figure 5]. Only half of the patients in the SC group were able to make the same range of bilateral movement, while in the MSCH group, 60.86% of the patients could. On the contrary this rate is 82.32% in the CTRL group.

In the course of the X-ray analyses, among the values (ramal height/RH/ and condylar plus ramal height/CH+RH/) measured on the similar sides of two orthopedic groups there were significant differences. The mean values of the MSCH group measured on both the left and right ramuses were higher than those of the SC group [Table 4]. The mean values of the asymmetry indices related to the mentioned lengths were similarly higher in the MSCH group (2.92 for RH and 2.27 for CH+RH), compared with the SC group (2.80 for RH and 1.93 for CH+RH). When comparing the sub-groups formed on the basis of the severity of the orthopedic deformation, higher asymmetry indices matched more severe deformations, for all the three lengths [Table 5].

Numerous studies discuss the relationship between the multiple postural disorders and spinal illnesses causing these disorders and the dental complex. Among the examined spinal disorders, idiopathic scoliosis characterized by the pathologic curvature occurring in the frontal plane is relatively frequent, while the Scheuermann's disease with the pathological curvature in the sagittal plane is uncommon [5]. In the reviewed studies, the pathological postures correlating with the dominant kyphotic curvature are often encountered, however, the Scheuermann's kyphosis is not only evident in the case of the increased curvature values but also in the case of degenerative vertebral changes of the affected spinal section which cause the posture abnormality to become permanent [21, 22]. The statistically high incidence values, the advancement of the disease over time and the pathological curvature that is normal for the scoliotic curvature were the reasons that the children with Scheuermann's disease participated in this epidemiological study. There are only few articles which describe the orthodontic examination as an opportunity for the early detection of spinal disorders or which emphasize the necessity of early orthodontic check-ups for children with diagnosed spinal disorders, highlighting the application of minimal-invasive methods of screening the affected population [4, 9]. For these practical reasons, this study is also based on these methods.

Based on the previous results, a dominancy of the dentofacial asymmetry in the SC group, and sagittal and vertical alterations caused by the forward-tilted head posture and an increase in the numbers of the TMJ abnormalities in MSCH group were expected [1, 3, 5].

After the evaluation, in most cases our values were similar to those in the studies; however, we found some exceptions.

The frequency of the asymmetric deviations of posterior region occurring in the sagittal dimension was similar in the groups with spinal deformities and this value was double than the one registered in the CTRL group. The frequency of the symmetric normocclusions was the greatest in the CTRL group while the incidence values of malocclusions were the highest in the MSCH group. The frontal crossbites characterizing mostly the patients with scoliosis were not registered in our patient groups [9].

An examination of the incisor relation proved the previously found correlation between the alterations in the sagittal plane and the pathological kyphotic curvature; just like the extreme overjet, the deep bite was significantly more frequent in patients affected by Scheuermann's disease, in contrast to the SC or the CTRL group.

On the basis of the evaluation of cephalograms of the groups with spinal disorders, a slightly protrusive maxilla and a slightly retrusive mandibula are characteristic for a skeletal deep bite which is more pronounced in the SC group than in the MSCH group.

The quantity of lateral crossbites was minimal in both examined groups; however the transversal deviations of the frontal region could be evaluated. The incidence indicators of the dentofacial asymmetry characterizing the patients with scoliosis were exceeded by the values of the MSCH group in respect of the deviation of the upper and lower midline in relation to the facial midline as well as the midline deviation. The mean asset of the midline deviation was significantly higher in the scoliotic group, of which importance is increased by the lower mean value typical for the CTRL group, this value being even lower than of the MSCH group.

In literature, the opinions on the correlation between the poor head posture and alterations of the TMJ differ [4]. Some authors favor the theory that in case of the forward-tilted head position, the displaced centre of gravity can be a risk factor causing the development of the TMJ dysfunctions, others say that a laterally tilted head posture favors the mandible deviation loading the articulation asymmetrically [2, 11]. The latter hypothesis seems to be proved by the numerous pathological symptoms of the TMJ registered among scoliotic patients, together with the significant number of asymmetrical values found in respect of the lateral movements. Despite the significant difference among them, the functional asymmetry index of both groups is twice greater than the values measured in the control group. The panoramic X-ray analyses show highest facial asymmetry indicators in case of the MSCH group. As a result of this the adequate asymmetry index comes from the comparison done after the condylar, ramal and condylar plus ramal height measurements performed on the two mandibular ramuses. As opposed to the condylar index both the ramal and the condyle plus ramal indices were higher in the MSCH group and therefore showed a greater asymmetry. The already mentioned asymmetry indicators are collaterally changing with the severity of the orthopedic deviations.

The difficulty of this range of subjects is shown by the concordant or the contrary results of this study compared to the ones previously found in the literature studying the etiological roles of the spinal deformities with unclear origins in the development of the craniofacial deformities [23].

The data of this epidemiological study prove and partially complete the results of numerous studies in literature reporting a high number of dentofacial anomalies in children with various spinal diseases.

In both groups with spinal disorders there were differences shown between the size and the frequency of the occurrence of several deviations. The observed more frequent and more severe dentofacial deviation in the MSCH groups draws the attention to the necessity of the early examination of this less examined patient group from an orthodontics point of view.