[Relationship of certain skeletal maturity indicators of hand and wrist with adolescent growth spurt].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of certain skeletal maturity indicators of hand and wrist with adolescent growth spurt.


METHODS
14 757 normal urban children, 7373 boys and 7384 girls, aged 7 - 20, all of Han nationality, from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wenzhou, Dalian, and Shijiazhuang underwent measurement of height and weight, and left wrist anterior-posterior radiography. The incremental curve was fitted graphically according to the differences between the means for height at series ages. The ages of attainment of eleven skeletal indicators were defined by regression analysis for middle phalange 3, radius, and adductor sesamoid of the first finger.


RESULTS
The accelerative phase of adolescent growth spurt was accompanied by becoming square of middle phalange 3 and the appearance of adductor sesamoid of the first finger. Peak growth velocity (PGV) was reached at about the time of epiphysis capping in middle phalange 3 and ossification of the adductor sesamoid of first finger. Decelerated phase of growth was indicated by the beginning of epiphysis fusion in radius and full maturity in adductor sesamoid of first finger. When the epiphysis of middle phalange 3 and the half of epiphysis of radius were respectively fused with their diaphyses, the growth spurt was ended.


CONCLUSIONS
Certain skeletal maturity indicators of hand and wrist can be used to indicate the period of adolescent growth that a child has reached.
Zhang
Shao-yan
SY
Hebei Sports Science Research Institute, Shijiazhuang 050011, China. zhangshaoyan@vip.sina.com
Liu
Gang
G
Liu
Li-juan
LJ
Ma
Zhen-guo
ZG
Han
Yi-san
YS
Shen
Xun-zhang
XZ
Xu
Rui-long
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D001846:Bone Development; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012044:Regression Analysis