Greater Trochanter Height: A Quantitative Predictor of Skeletal Maturity

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to develop a quantitative and reproductible method for estimating skeletal maturity based on measurements of the height of the bony greater trochanter (GT) using timing to 90% of final height as a gold standard. Methods: Bony GT height was measured using serial anteroposterior pelvic radiographs in 76 healthy pediatric patients obtained from the Bolton-Brush (BB) Study with corresponding Greulich-Pyle (GP) bone ages. Chronologic age at 90% of final height was calculated. GT height was then measured in 300 contemporary patients aged 4 to 18 years, evenly divided based on sex and race. Bony GT height was compared between BB and contemporary patients, while linear mixed-effects models were used to examine for potential predictors of years to 90% final height using patient sex, GP bone age and bony GT height measurements. Results: Bony GT height was measured in 303 radiographs from the BB Collection (n=37 males; n=39 females) with corresponding GP bone ages, chronological ages, and heights to represent skeletal maturity. Mean age at 90% final height was 13.3±0.6 years for males and 11.4±0.8 years for females. When controlling for patient age and sex, multiple regression analysis revealed that contemporary patients possessed significantly greater bony GT height (mean difference: 1.15 mm; P=0.001) when compared with BB patients. Multivariate analysis showed that combining bony GT height, GP bone age, and sex si...
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Hip Source Type: research