Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
07:56
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
The shorthand bone age assessment: a simpler alternative to current methods.
Benton E Heyworth1, Daniel A Osei, Peter D Fabricant
1Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|June 12, 2013
Summary
A new shorthand bone age (SBA) method offers a simpler, more efficient alternative for assessing skeletal age in pediatric patients. This validated tool shows substantial agreement and high reliability, comparable or superior to existing methods.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Pediatric radiology
- Skeletal age assessment
Background:
- Radiographic skeletal age assessment is standard in pediatric orthopaedics.
- Current methods are labor-intensive and resource-dependent.
- A novel, abridged method was developed for improved efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel shorthand bone age (SBA) method.
- To compare SBA against the established Greulich and Pyle method.
- To determine the efficiency and reliability of the SBA method.
Main Methods:
- Compared SBA to Greulich and Pyle using 260 pediatric hand radiographs.
- Three pediatric orthopaedic surgeons and one resident assessed bone age using SBA.
- Interobserver, intraobserver reliability, and agreement were calculated using weighted κ.
Main Results:
- SBA demonstrated substantial agreement with the Greulich and Pyle method (κ = 0.71–0.75).
- SBA showed substantial to almost perfect interobserver (κ = 0.77–0.87) and intraobserver (κ = 0.87–0.95) reliability.
- Results are comparable or superior to other skeletal age assessment tools.
Conclusions:
- The SBA method is a simple and efficient alternative for skeletal age assessment.
- The tool exhibits high validity and reliability.
- SBA can streamline pediatric orthopaedic assessments.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
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...
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...
01:14Temperature Measurement Sites
A thermometer measures body temperature. The common sites for measuring body temperature are the oral cavity, axillary region, temporal artery, and skin surface, such as the forehead, abdomen, and axilla. True core body temperature is assessed in the rectum, tympanic membrane, pulmonary artery, esophagus, and urinary bladder.
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
01:29Bone Disorders
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...