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Validation of a software for age estimation bone through the cervical vertebrae

Authors:
  • Associação Brasileira de Odontologia - Seccional Campinas - SP

Abstract and Figures

Currently, to establish a diagnosis and determine a treatment plan based on the skeletal maturation, lateral radiograph of the head can be used, where it is observed the morphological changes of the cervical vertebrae C2, C3 and C4. The aim of this study is to validate a software (Easy Age) to assess skeletal maturation by cervical vertebrae, demonstrating its applicability and reproducibility. For this, the sample consisted of 500 lateral radiographs of patients of both genders, from 7 to 15 years of age, who were examined by three evaluators, twice for the visual method and twice with the software. To evaluate the inter- and intra-examiner agreement, it was applied the test of Kappa, which showed a substantial level of agreement for visual assessment of the cervical vertebrae, while for the evaluation of the cervical vertebrae through the software, showed a level almost perfect agreement for all evaluators. Friedman's test was applied to compare the ratings between 1st and 2nd visual examination and between 1st and 2nd examination using the software, and there were no significant differences. To validate the software it was performed a comparison between results obtained by visual method and by software, with the Spearman correlation test. Results showed a strong correlation, statistically significant, between the measurements of visual examination and of the software evaluation. It is concluded that the software is valid and improved applicability and reproducibility of the method of estimating skeletal age.
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