title: The rate of skeletal maturation in the Scottish population: a comparison across 25 years (1980-2005).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed to compare the rates of skeletal maturation in Scottish populations 25 years apart (1980-2005).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cohorts of sequentially radiographs were identified from patients at a Scottish pediatric hospital in 1980 and 2005. All radiographs were performed after trauma. The bone age was measured according to the Carpal scoring system of the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred four and 103 radiographs were included from 1980 and 2005, respectively. The radiographs from 2005 showed the children to have achieved older bone ages for given chronological ages than in 1980 (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings have an important implication for the management of children with limb-length discrepancy. Children may not have the growth potential anticipated by chronological age; this will affect the timing of surgery and medical treatment of abnormalities of puberty and stature.
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah Louise
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Savaridas
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huntley
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001846:Bone Development; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology