Evaluation of the Correlation Between Vertical Facial Discrepancies and Cervical Vertebral Fusion

The aim of the present study was to find the correlation between the risk of fusion in cervical vertebrae and long face pattern in adults. Eighty lateral cephalograms with proper density and contrast were selected. The vertical facial dimension was analyzed to determine normal and long face patterns and to divide the samples into control and case groups, respectively. Cervical vertebrae were observed to detect the continuance of radiopacity between cervical vertebrae, which is considered as a risk of fusion. Data were transferred to SPSS software, and Pearson's chi-squared test was used to detect the correlation between cervical vertebral fusion and the vertical facial pattern. The analysis of the data showed that the number of samples with fusion was higher in long face samples than in samples with normal vertical facial dimensions. Pearson's chi-squared test showed a correlation between the vertical facial pattern and the risk of fusion in cervical vertebrae (P<0.001). According to the results, there is a correlation between the increase in the vertical facial dimension and the prevalence of cervical vertebral fusion.