Upper segment/lower segment ratio and armspan-height difference in healthy Turkish children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Anthropometry
• Clinical Evaluation

Background:

• Body proportion assessment is vital for evaluating children with short stature.
• Current reference data for upper segment/lower segment (US/LS) ratio and armspan-height difference are limited, lacking standard deviations.
• Establishing normative data is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal values for the upper segment/lower segment (US/LS) ratio in Turkish children.
• To establish normal values for armspan-height difference in Turkish children.
• To provide age- and sex-specific reference data for these anthropometric measurements.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of height, upper segment, lower segment, and armspan were taken from 1302 healthy Turkish children aged 3-18 years.
• Age-related mean and standard deviation curves were constructed for both the US/LS ratio and armspan-height difference.
• Data were analyzed separately for boys and girls to account for sex-specific differences.

Main Results:

• The US/LS ratio generally decreased with age in both sexes, reaching its lowest point earlier in girls (13 years) than in boys (15 years).
• Armspan was shorter than height in younger children but became longer around age 12 in both sexes.
• Armspan-height difference showed less change after puberty in girls compared to boys.

Conclusions:

• The US/LS ratio and armspan-height difference are practical and easily obtainable clinical parameters.
• The established reference standards will assist clinicians in the accurate evaluation of short stature in children.
• This study provides essential normative data for Turkish children, aiding in the diagnosis and management of growth disorders.