Prevalencia del ponticulus posticus en teleradiografías de perfil realizadas en el Instituto Nacional de Ortodoncia entre los años 2019 y 2020

Abstract

Introduction: X-rays are a basic test for diagnosis in multiple medical specialties. Profile teleradiography gives us a sagittal view of the craniofacial massif and cervical vertebrae. A structure called Ponticulus Posticus can be found in the Atlas or C1 vertebrae, an anatomical variant described as a bony bridge between the posterior portion of the superior articular process and the posterolateral portion of the superior margin of the posterior arch of the C1 vertebra. This structure could be related in some patients with symptoms such as: headache, vertigo, eye pain and photophobia, hence the importance of early detection and analysis. In Chile there are few studies in relation to the prevalence and classification of Ponticulus Posticus. Objective: To determine the prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus in profile teleradiographies performed at the National Institute of Orthodontics during the years 2019 and 2020. Material and method: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with a sample of 1565 profile teleradiographies of patients from the National Institute of Orthodontics, where the prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus was determined according to sex, age, and classification of each Ponticulus Posticus. These data were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software. Results: The final sample consisted of 1240 profile teleradiographies, where the minimum age was 15 years, the maximum 60 years, and the median age was 22.66 years. 38.3% (475) of the teleradiographies analyzed presented the Ponticulus Posticus, while 61.7% (765) did not present it. The prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus in male patients was 42.3% (185) while in female patients it was 36.1% (290). Regarding the classification of each Ponticulus Posticus, 61.7% (765) are Class 1 (not present), 19.6% (243) are Class 2 (present up to less than a third of the vertebral artery route), 8.5% (106) are Class 3 (present from one third of the course of the vertebral artery but nor completely) and 10.2% (126) are Class 4 (present and extending completely through the entire course of the vertebral artery). Conclusion: A 38.3% prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus was found in a sample of 1240 profile teleradiographies. The Ponticulus Posticus is more prevalent in male patients (42.3%) than in female patients (36.1%). There are few studies of the prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus in Chile, so it is necessary to carry out more research of thys type in order to know the national reality on a larger scale.