Growth is one of the main indicators that allows you to assess the development of the child as clearly as possible. In addition to the standard methods for measuring growth, there are a number of lesser known methods for estimating growth rates. One of them is the assessment of bone age. In combination with other forecasting methods, it allows you to determine the condition of the bones as accurately as possible and, if significant deviations are found, prescribe treatment.
The essence of the method
Bone age in a child is an indicator of the growth of the skeleton and serves to make predictions about the duration of the process of its development. The very way to obtain the necessary data is that the patient undergoes an x-ray of certain bones, the results of which are studied by the doctor.
There are certain signs on the patient's bones by which a specialist can easily determine the various stagesmaturation of the skeleton and form a final conclusion about the absence or presence of problems with growth. In case of serious discrepancies, the child may be given treatment to correct his growth problems, and the sooner this is done, the less consequences will be.
By what criteria is determined
Different anatomy textbooks give different versions of exactly how to determine bone age, they are all equally reliable, but each doctor uses the most preferred source for him personally.
At different stages of a child's life, it is possible to determine the centers of ossification of different bones. Therefore, different x-rays will be required at each age.
The most universal object of study for determining bone age is the hand. It is here that a sufficiently large number of ossification nuclei is located, which allows you to use it at almost any age and not worry about the correctness of the result.
Method of determination
As mentioned above, the bone age is determined by the X-ray of the skeleton, on which the doctor determines the ossification nuclei. If they are found in the examined bone, the age of the child is equated to a certain value. It has been reliably determined in which part of the skeleton and at what age certain ossification nuclei are formed. For example, the capitate and hamate bone have such a nucleus already by 3-4 months, and the epiphysis of the ulna - by 7-8 years.
As you can see in the examples, the accuracy of bone age determination canvary within one year. This is quite normal, since people are very different, and the development of their organisms may differ, including within a year of life.
Research results
Absolutely specific figures for bone age are almost impossible to establish, since the spread of results is quite large. Therefore, research parameters are always indicated in a certain interval:
- Bone age corresponds to passport or biological age.
- It coincides with puberty.
- Bone age corresponds to a different period of life. The doctor must determine the interval and make a diagnosis.
You should not be seriously worried about minor deviations of the biological and passport age from the bone age. Not always such deviations will indicate that there is a he alth problem. However, if the differences are significant, it makes sense to check the child's he alth more closely and, if necessary, undergo a course of treatment.
What else can be used for
However, the indicator can be determined not only in medicine. Archeology and anthropology are also engaged in the study of bones, including to determine the age of the oldest bone remains of 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 reconstructing the circumstances of the death of a person whose remains were found and, as a result, obtaining new information about the life of thishuman.
It is the bone age that is the main characteristic that allows you to determine the maturity of a person from 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 from its existing dimensions.
In addition, in addition to archeology, criminologists also use the definition of skeletal age in order to clarify the picture of the crime. The method of determining the age in this case is the same as in the previous described areas of research. This technique in forensics helps to clarify the identity of the victim, which, in turn, speeds up the clarification of the circumstances of her death.
The method for determining bone age or skeletal maturity is standard when working with bones. However, in medicine, it is also important, as significant stunting is a clear violation that requires treatment.
