BONE AGE ASSESSMENT FROM RADIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MEDIAL END OF CLAVICLE: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY FROM CENTRAL INDIA (CHHATTISGARH)
Keywords:
bone age, bone age assessment, epiphyseal union, medial end of clavicleAbstract
Bone age assessment is a method for evaluating the level of skeletal maturity to estimate the actual age of a person. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the chronological age and degree of epiphyseal fusion of medial end of clavicle in population of Chhattisgarh (Central India) and to compare our results with the results of similar studies. The study was carried out in 100 healthy subjects (40 girls & 60 boys) aging from 16 to 25 years. The obtained results from the radiographs revealed that the complete fusion of epiphysis of medial end of clavicle is seen at 21-25 years. Females were consistently developing epiphyseal union at a younger age than their male counterparts. Results also suggest that the age of epiphyseal union is found to vary greatly indicating the need for separate standards of age of epiphyseal union for separate regions.
References
1. This study was conducted exclusively on the young indigenous population of Chhattisgarh region. 2. The epiphyseal union of medial end of clavicle in males
is completed in all instances (100%) at the age of 23 years.
3. The epiphyseal union of medial end of clavicle in females is completed in all instances (100%) at the age of 21 years.
4. As the sample size is limited, further studies are necessary. Region wise studies should be conducted for better correlation and comparison.
5. Due to changing lifestyle pattern, dietary, climatic, behavioral factors, age of ossification is changing as mentioned in the available literature. So as to evaluate these changes, studies are recommended in every region of India at regular time period for academic and judicial interest.
6. The opinion about age should be given always in the range. From this study it can be concluded that the opinion about age can be given in a range having margin of error of 1-2 years.
7. Radiological interpretations are observer dependent so the set standards should be considered under expert guidance to arrive at conclusion in such radiological studies.
8. For estimation of age, relevant joints should be radiologically examined for different centres and opinion should be arrived considering the status of multiple centres.
