Growth is one of the main indicators that allows you to assess the development of the child as clearly as possible. In addition to standard methods of measuring growth, there are still a sufficient number of less known methods for estimating growth rates. One of them is an assessment of bone age. In combination with other forecasting techniques, it allows you to accurately determine the condition of the bones and, if significant deviations are found, to prescribe treatment.
The essence of the method
Bone age in a child is an indicator of skeletal growth and serves to build predictions regarding the duration of its development. The very method of obtaining the necessary data is that the patient undergoes an x-ray of certain bones, the results of which are examined by the doctor.
There are certain signs on the patient’s bones, by which a specialist can easily determine the various stages of skeleton maturation and form the final conclusion about the absence or presence of growth problems. In case of serious discrepancies, the child may be prescribed treatment that corrects his growth problems, and the sooner this is done, the less consequences.
What are the criteria
Different anatomy manuals provide different versions of how to determine the bone age; all of them are equally reliable, however, each doctor uses the most preferred source for him personally.
At different stages of a child’s life, the centers of ossification of various bones can be determined. Therefore, at each age, you will need to undergo different radiographs.
The most universal object of research for determining bone age is the brush. This is where a fairly large number of ossification nuclei are located , which allows you to use it at almost any age and not to worry about the correctness of the result.
Determination method
As already mentioned above, bone age is determined by x-ray of the skeleton, on which the doctor determines the nuclei of ossification. If they are found in the test bone, the child's age is equal to a certain value. It is reliably determined in which part of the skeleton and at what age these or those ossification nuclei form. For example, the capitate and hooked bone has such a nucleus by the age of 3-4 months, and the epiphysis of the ulna - by 7-8 years.
As can be seen in the examples, the accuracy of determining bone age can vary within one year. This is quite normal, since people are very different, and the development of their organisms may differ, including within the limits of the year of life.
Research results
It is practically impossible to establish absolutely specific figures of bone age, since the scatter of the results is quite large. Therefore, research parameters are always indicated in a certain interval:
- Bone age corresponds to passport or biological.
- It coincides with the puberty.
- Bone age corresponds to a different period of life. The doctor must determine the interval and make a diagnosis.
Do not seriously worry with minor deviations of the biological and passport age from bone. Not always such deviations will indicate that there is a health problem. However, if the differences are significant, it makes sense to check the child’s health more carefully and, if necessary, undergo treatment.
What else can be used
However, the indicator can be determined far not only in medicine. Archeology and anthropology are also engaged in the study of bones, including to determine the age of the oldest bones of the ancestors. At the moment, almost any archaeological find with bones is accompanied by data on the age of the bones. This is extremely important for the reconstruction of the circumstances of the death of a person whose remains were found and, as a result, to obtain new information about the life of this person.
It is bone age that is the main characteristic that allows one to determine the maturity of a person by his remains. No other methods can be performed if the bones found do not constitute a complete skeleton, or when the stage of development cannot be accurately determined by its available sizes.
In addition, in addition to archeology, the definition of skeletal age is also used by criminologists in order to clarify the picture of the crime. The method for determining age in this case is the same as in the previous research areas described. This technique in forensics helps to clarify the identity of the victim, which, in turn, accelerates the clarification of the circumstances of her death.
A method for determining bone age or skeletal maturity is standard when working with bones. However, in medicine it is also important, since a significant growth retardation is a clear violation requiring treatment.