Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Can orthopaedic clinicians learn to read skeletal bone age? An inter- and intra observer study between specialties
Objective:
Determination of skeletal age is essential for predicting eventual leg length discrepancies and predicting the accurate timing for surgical intervention in order to correct any discrepancy. To our knowledge, there has not been an interdisciplinary comparison of the degree of agreement in determining skeletal bone age.
Materials And Methods:
We evaluated 30 left hand/wrist radiographs (children aged 16 months to 10 years 6 months) on two separate occasions between musculoskeletal paediatric radiologists, paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and a senior radiographer after appropriate training.
Results:
All clinicians were able to reliably age patients with good intra- and interobserver agreement.
Conclusion:
We suggest that following tuition, orthopaedic surgeons are able to reliably age patients from X-rays.
Related Concept Videos
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Classification of Bones
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The long...

