Age determination by employing radiological technique in pediatric age groups

Objectives: To establish radiological parameter of chronological age by observing the appearance of ossification centers of bones comprising wrist in different pediatric age groups of our population

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Study Design: Prospective descriptive study

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Setting: Department of Radiology and Imaging, Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro/ Hyderabad Sindh, from January 2007 to December 2008

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Method: Radiological study of wrist bones of 1544 children divided in 13 groups on the basis of 1 year age interval including both females and males representing the heterogeneous population of Hyderabad district of Sindh province was conducted. Reliable age record and freedom from any musculo-skeletal, nutritional and endocrinal disorders were the criteria for the selection of the study subjects

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Results: The study reveals that the meantime of ossification of carpal bones and distal ends of ulna and radius is earlier in female subjects compared to their counterpart of same age group and also shows advancement in ossification time in both genders when compared with most of the countries of the world where bony age is scrutinized. By using these standards, bony age of child can be reliably expressed exactly in months

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Conclusion: The practice of estimating age in Pakistan remained dependent on the data charts of other countries and/ or more on guess work with a margin of error +/- 1-2 years because of non availability of our own data. Comparing the west, more subjects were included in this study; therefore the outcome provides more accurate age estimation with a margin of +/- 1-2 months, by referring this presented study data. The medical professionals, law enforcers and even the courts and public at large would be benefited from this study