Effect of Malnutrition on the Sequence and Time of Appearance of the Ossification Centres of the Wrist and Hand in Malnourished Children.

ABSTRACT

Appearance of ossification centres of 500 malnourished children (250 boys and 250 girls) from birth to eight years was observed in the radiographs of the wrist i.e. lower end of radius and ulna and the hand i.e. carpals, metacarpals and phalanges. There was no marked difference in the sequence of appearance of ossification centres, capitate and hamate were first to appear followed by other bones as occurs in healthy children. The centres most commonly retarded in the hand and wrist in the children with malnutrition comprising the current series were the middle and distal phalanges and those least retarded were the capitate and hamate.