Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to assess the skeletal age at the onset and end of the pubertal growth spurt and determine its duration in four growth type groups: (1) normodivergent skeletal Class I (I N), (2) normodivergent skeletal Class III (III N), (3) high-angle skeletal Class III (III H) and (4) high-angle skeletal Class I (I H). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred thirteen subjects were selected from 2163 examined files. The cervical vertebral maturation stage was recorded by means of Baccetti's method. The sagittal and vertical skeletal relations were evaluated according to Steiner analysis with Kaminek's modification. The duration of the pubertal growth spurt was calculated from the difference between the means of the chronological age related to CS3 and CS4 maturation stages. RESULTS: The shortest lasting pubertal growth spurt was observed in group I N (1.1), followed by group III N (1.6). Major differences between arithmetic means CS4-CS3 were seen in groups I H and III H (2.3 and 2.7, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The following tendency was observed in the duration of the pubertal growth spurt: I N < III N < I H < III H. This tendency has statistical significance only in high-angle patients in comparison with normodivergent skeletal Class I. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge on the longer pubertal growth spurt in high-angle patients compared to patients with normal anteroposterior and vertical relationships can be useful in the selection of an appropriate therapeutic method and a treatment time.