OBJECTIVETo investigate the maturation of individual bones on the hand and wrist in children with central precocious puberty (CPP) and idiopathic short stature (ISS).

METHODSHand and wrist films of 25 children with CPP, 29 children with ISS and 21 normal controls were evaluated by conventional Greulich-Pyle (GP) atlas method and individual bone assessment method, in which all twenty bones of the hand and wrist were evaluated based on GP atlas, including 2 radius and ulna, 7 carpal bones, 11 metacarpal and phalangeal bones, the average bone age (BA) was calculated. The differences in groups were analyzed by independent samples t test. The differences between the two methods were analyzed by paired sample t test. The differences between BA and chronological age (CA) were analyzed by ROC with SPSS 17.0.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the advance of BA in the CPP group was 0.70-2.26 y (1.48 ±0.78) by the GP atlas method, while that was 0.28-2.00 y(1.14 ±0.86) by the individual bone evaluation method. In all twenty bones, the advance of metacarpal and phalangeal BA was the greatest [0.34-2.06 y(1.2±0.86)]. In the ISS group,the delay of BA was 0.47-2.91 y(-1.69±1.22) by the GP atlas method, while that was 0.48-2.50 y (-1.49±1.01) by individual bone evaluation method.The delay of carpal BA was the greatest [0.59-2.73 y(-1.66±1.07)] in all twenty bones. In the ISS group and the normal control group, there were no statistic differences between the two methods. In the CPP group, statistic difference was found between two methods. There were no statistic differences for the areas under ROC curves between two methods.

CONCLUSIONThe advance of metacarpal and phalangeal BA is the greatest in CPP group and the delay of carpal BA is the greatest in ISS group.Both methods provide diagnostic information for bone age in CPP and ISS children.

Age Determination by Skeleton ; methods ; Carpal Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dwarfism ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Hand ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVE: To study the accurate of Li Guozhen's Percent Numeration and the Development Standard of Chinese Wrist Bone CHN Numeration of age estimation in 14-year-old females. METHODS: Fifty-one 14-year-old females from three middle schools in Loudi City in Hunan were selected randomly, whose left wrists were photographed with X-rays under the same condition. Skeletal age was estimated following the two numerations. The two skeletal ages were compared with each other and with chronological age. RESULTS: The skeletal age from Percent Numeration and CHN Numeration have no significance difference, P > 0.05. And the skeletal ages of the two Numerations have no significance difference either, P > 0.05. CONCLUSION The Percent Numeration and the CHN Numeration are still suited for age estimation in 14-year-old females.
Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Age Factors ; Body Mass Index ; Carpal Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; China ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Hand Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Metacarpal Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Reference Values

The traditional methods of skeletal age estimation mainly include Numeration, Atlas, and Counting scores. In recent years, other new methods were proposed by several scholars. Utilizing image logical characteristics of X-ray film to extrapolate skeletal age is a key means by present forensic medicine workers in evaluating skeletal age. However, there exist some variations when we present the conclusion of skeletal age as an "evidence" directly to the Justice Trial Authority. In order to enhance the accuracy of skeletal age determination, further investigation for appropriate methodology should be undertaken. After a collective study of pertinent domestic and international literatures, we present this review of the research and advancement on skeletal age evaluation methods of X-ray film.
Age Determination by Skeleton/trends* ; Carpal Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Elbow/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Hand Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Male ; Radius/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; X-Ray Film