## 3 Results
A significant difference (Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test, \(p<0.05\)) between the two groups was also recorded for the shape of pterygopalatine fissure (the fissure in patients with MCI was elongated than in patients who do not have dental abnormalities) while the difference for the shape of sella turcica was not significant (Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test, \(p>0.05\)) (Table 4). We did not observed any significant difference (chi-square test, \(p>0.05\)) between males and females as regards PP, SB and APAD (Table 5). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Skeletal Parameter** & **Test Group (Mean \(\pm\) SD)** & **Control Group (Mean \(\pm\) SD)** & \(p\)**-Value** \\ \hline Shape of sella turcica & & & \\ (height/diameter) & 0.88 \(\pm\) 0.66 & 0.83 \(\pm\) 0.15 & 0.64 \\ \hline Shape of pterygopalatine fissure & & & \\ (lenght/width) & 4.50 \(\pm\) 1.05 & 3.96 \(\pm\) 0.69 & 0.004 * \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{c}{* \(p<0.05\). SD: standard deviation.} \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Descriptive statistics and results for the shape of sella turcica and of pterygopalatine fissure in the two groups. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{6}{c}{**Univariate Logistic Model**} & **Multivariate Logistic Model** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Skeletal Parameter**} & **Test Group** & \multirow{3}{*}{**Control Group**} & \multirow{3}{*}{\(p\)**-Value**} & **Odd Ratio** & **Confidence** & **Odd Ratio** & **Confidence** \\  & **(\%) and** & **Prevalence (\%)** & & **(OR)** & **Interval** & **(OR) * & **Interval** \\ \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{Poniticulus posticus, (\%)} \\ Grade 1 * & 40.3 (27) & 83.6 (56) & \(<\)0.001 * & 1 & 1 & 1 & \\ Grade 2 & 31.3 (21) & 9.0 (6) & 0.002 * & **7.26** & 2.63–20.07 & **5.49** & 1.89–15.91 \\ Grade 3 & 14.9 (10) & 3.0 (2) & 0.030 * & **10.37** & 2.12–50.66 & **9.26** & 1.81–47.23 \\ Grade 4 & 13.5 (9) & 4.4 (3) & 0.128 & **6.22** & 1.58–24.86 & 3.60 & 0.84–15.45 \\ \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{Sella Bridging, (\%)} \\ Grade 1 * & 13.4 (9) & 37.3 (25) & 0.003 * & 1 & 1 & 1 & \\ Grade 2 & 56.7 (38) & 49.3 (33) & 0.489 & **3.20** & 1.31–7.81 & 2.47 & 0.90–6.78 \\ Grade 3 & 30.0 (20) & 13.4 (9) & 0.035 * & **6.17** & 2.06–18.45 & **4.57** & 1.32–15.83 \\ \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{Atlas posterior arch} \\ deficiency, (\%) & & & 0.008 * & & & \\ Improbable * & 80.6 (54) & 95.5 (64) & 1 & & 1 & \\ Possible & 19.4 (13) & 4.5 (3) & & **5.14** & 1.39–18.97 & **5.18** & 1.18–22.70 \\ \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{* \(p<0.05\); Significant ORs are shown in bold; *: reference category; *: OR adjusted for the other factors in the model.} \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Descriptive statistics and results of Univariate and Multivariate logistic models for the following skeletal parameters: PP, sella turcica bridging (SB) and atlas posterior arch deficiency (APAD). The univariate logistic analysis for severe MCI exhibited a significant difference (Chi-square test, \(p<0.05\)) only for one parameter (SB grade 3). However, with multivariate logistic analysis, we did not record any significant difference (Table 6). Furthermore, relative risk ratios of having severe or not severe MCI by multinomial logistic regression were calculated and a significant association (\(p<0.05\)) was found for PP (grade 2 and 3) and for APAD, while for SB, we did not observe any significant difference (\(p>0.05\)) (Table 7).