Retrospective investigation of degenerative changes on the atlantoodontoid joint on cone beam computed tomography images

The aim of this study is to determine the degenerative changes on the atlantoodontoid joint (AOJ) on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and to provide information about the distribution of their severity among genders and age groups. At the beginning of the study, 1632 CBCT images were examined. A total of 215 patients, including 130 females and 85 males, aged between 18-80, whose CBCT images were found suitable for the study were identified. The detected patients were divided into six groups according to the specified age ranges. Degenerative changes seen in AOJ were scored according to the classification made by Lakshmanan et al. Chi-square and ordinal regression tests were used for statistical analysis. Confidence interval (CI) was determined as 95% in all statistical analyzes. In our study, the odds of females having a higher osteoarthritis (OA) score was 0.557 (95% CI, 0.318 to 0.975) times that of males. The odds of patients between the ages of 60-69 having a higher OA score was 0.04 (95% CI, 0.005 to 0.308) times that of the patients between the ages of 70-80. The odds of patients between the ages of 50-59 having a higher OA score was 0.029 (95% CI, 0.004 to 0.206) times that of the patients between the ages of 70-80. The odds of patients between the ages of 40-49 having a higher OA score was 0.006 (95% CI, 0.001 to 0.045) times that of the patients between the ages of 70-80. The odds of patients between the ages of 30-39 having a higher OA score was 0.003 (95% CI, 0.000 to 0.025) times that of the patients between the ages of 70-80. The odds of patients between the ages of 18-29 having a higher OA score was 0.001 (95% CI, 0.000 to 0.008) times that of the patients between the ages of 70-80.