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Anatomical features of the sphenoid ridge in the pediatric population

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe the relation of the sphenoid ridge (SR) with the surrounding anatomical structures in healthy children when approaching the anterior and middle fossae.

Methods

Computed tomography of 180 pediatric patients (90 males / 90 females), aged 1–18 years were included the study. The size of the lesser wing (LW) and the distances of the LW to certain landmarks were measured.

Results

The LW length was 28.48 ± 8.15 mm. The LW widths at the midline and the midpoint and lateral point of the SR were 7.78 ± 1.74 mm, 2.84 ± 0.81 mm, and 1.91 ± 0.64 mm, respectively. The distance between the midpoint of the SR and the crista galli was 28.22 ± 5.56 mm, and the distance between the crista alaris and internal auditory meatus was 51.73 ± 5.79 mm. The linear function was calculated as y = 18.748 + 1.024 × age for SR length, y = 6.046 + 0.182 × age for the midline width of SR, y = 2.367 + 0.050 × age for the midpoint width of SR, y = 1.249 + 0.069 × age for the crista alaris width, y = 21.727 + 0.683 × age for the distance between the SR midpoint and the crista galli, and y = 43.614 + 0.855 × age for the distance between the crista alaris and internal auditory meatus.

Conclusion

All measured parameters increased irregularly with advancing age. Furthermore, our regression equations representing the growth dynamics of SR may be used to estimate these parameters.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

B.C.A., U.E. and O.B. conceived and designed the study. B.C.A., Ö.M.Ö., F.G. and S.D. collected and analyzed the radiological data. B.C.A., M.Q.M.G.A.K., U.E., and O.B. interpreted the results and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript. B.C.A. and O.B. contributed equally to writing the main manuscript text. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Orhan Beger.

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Ethical approval

The Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Ankara University approved this retrospective study (No: 2024/98).

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The need for informed consent from the patient was waived by the Institutional Review Board because of the retrospective nature of the study.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Alpergin, B.C., Eroglu, U., Özpişkin, Ö.M. et al. Anatomical features of the sphenoid ridge in the pediatric population. Childs Nerv Syst (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-024-06391-y

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