Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Dimensions in Infants 0–12 Months: Between- and Within-Group Differences Based on Age and Sex

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to (a) provide quantitative data on the growth of levator veli palatini (LVP), velopharyngeal (VP), and craniofacial dimensions in children under 12 months while controlling for corrected age and sex and (b) compare variability within age and sex groups. Method: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 75 infants between 0 and 12 months were measured and divided into four age groups. These data were obtained as part of a larger retrospective study. Following exclusion criteria, scans were analyzed, and dependent variables were obtained. Results: There was a statistically significant ( p < .0001) difference between corrected age groups on LVP muscle, VP, and craniofacial variables while controlling for sex. Significant growth effects were observed for LVP length ( p < .0001), extravelar length ( p < .0001), intravelar length ( p = .048), midline thickness ( p = .0001), origin–origin distance ( p < .0001), velar length ( p < .0001), velar thickness ( p = .003), nasion–sella turcica distance ( p < .0001), sella turcica–basion distance ( p < .0001), and hard palate length ( p < .0001). Significant sex effects were observed for pharyngeal depth ( p = .026) and effective VP ratio ( p = .014). When age was treated as a continuous variable, similar results were observed for all variables except pharyngeal depth. Within-group comparisons revealed the most variability occurs between 3 and 5.99 months for LVP and craniofacial variables and between 9 and 11.99 months of age for VP variables. Male participants demonstrated greater variability than female participants. Conclusions: Differences were observed in LVP, VP, and craniofacial variables in children under 12 months while controlling for sex. Males demonstrated larger values and greater variability for most variables.