Assessment of Bone Age in 7-15 Years Old Children in Sanandaj Town

In this study, Greulich-Pyle (GP) atlas that have been used for evaluation of bone age frequently, was used for assessment 0f bone age of Iranian children in Kurdestan(western Iran). Plain radiographies of left hands and wrists of 248 healthy children (111 boys and 137 girls with mean age 10.15 years old) between 7 to 15 years of age, who were students of primary and guidance school in Sanandaj, were taken. The radiographs were analyzed by a radiologist uninformed of the children’s age using the standards of Greulich and Pyle. Differences between bone age and chronologic age were calculated and the mean differences were compared by paired T-test and correlation coefficient among subgroups of children on the basis of sex and age and their father's jobs. Mean skeletal ages proved a delay of %12.6,%12.4,%3 than the mean chronological ages in the 7,8,9 years age groups, respectively and advanced %2,%5.4 and 51.4 in the 10,11,12-15 years age groups. Skeletal age in 11 years age groups of boys was advanced, while delayed in other age groups. In 7-9 years age groups of girls, bone age showed a delay copared to that of the chronological age and the ones of over 10 years showed an advance. In our study, bone age showed a delay in children whose fathers were workers (p<0.05), but in children whose fathers free or formal jobs no significant statistical differences were seen. According to the findings, using the standards of Greulich and Pyle to determine the bone age in 7-15 years old children must be considered with necessary caution, particularly in boys of late childhood.