Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Three-Dimensional Printing of a Complex Aortic Anomaly
Published on: November 1, 2018
Developmental Anatomy of the Radial Bow in Pediatric Patients Using 3D Imaging
Victoria J Nedder1, Kallie J Chen1, Catherine C May2
1Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Insights
The pediatric radial bow
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic development
- Pediatric skeletal anatomy
- 3D imaging applications
Background:
- The development of the radial bow in children is not well understood.
- Previous studies relied on radiographs, which can be affected by forearm rotation.
- 3D imaging offers a more accurate method for assessing pediatric radial bow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in the pediatric radial bow using 3D imaging.
- To quantify the radial bow's length, maximum bowing, and location throughout childhood and adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CT scans from 152 pediatric subjects (ages 2-18).
- Generated 3D models using Slicer and Rhino software.
- Measured entire radial bow length, maximum bow, bow location, and normalized measurements for different thirds of the radius.
Main Results:
- Radial bow length and maximum bow significantly increased with age (P <0.01).
- Normalized maximum bow and its location showed mild increases with age, plateauing around age 8.
- Normalized distal and middle third bows increased with age, while the proximal third remained constant.
Conclusions:
- The proportional shape of the radius changes during pediatric development.
- Normalized radial bow measurements, particularly in the distal and middle thirds, evolve with age.
- These developmental changes appear to stabilize qualitatively after age 8.
Background:
While radial bow shape is well characterized in adults, its development in children is not well understood. Previous studies on the radial bow use radiographs, thus, rotational positioning of the forearm could alter bowing measurements. This study used 3D imaging to better assess the pediatric radial bow.
Methods:
Computed tomography scans from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database were obtained for ages 2 to 16 (females) and 18 (males) (n=152). 3D models were generated using Slicer and Rhino software. Length of the entire radial bow (bicipital tuberosity to sigmoid notch), maximum radial bow, location of the maximum radial bow (bicipital tuberosity to the point of maximum bowing), and distal, middle, and proximal third radial bows were measured.
Results:
The length of the entire bow increased with age, with a strong correlation with age ( r =0.90, P <0.01). The maximum bow increased with age, with a strong correlation with age ( r =0.78, P <0.01). The maximum bow normalized to the length of the entire bow increased mildly with age, mean 0.059 ± 0.012 ( r =0.24, P =0.0024), but seems to plateau around age 8. The location of the maximum bow increased with age ( r =0.85, P <0.01). The normalized location of the maximum bow remained constant between ages, with a mean of 0.41 ± 0.10 ( r =0.12, P =0.14). The normalized distal third bow mildly increased with age ( r =0.34, P <0.01), the normalized middle third bow mildly increased with age ( r =0.25, P <0.01), and the normalized proximal third bow remained constant between ages ( r =0.096, P =0.24).
Conclusions:
Normalized values for maximum, distal third, and middle third radial bow increase with age, while normalized values for location and proximal third radial bow remain relatively constant, suggesting the proportional shape of the radius changes during development, although qualitatively plateaus after age 8.
Level Of Evidence:
Retrospective comparative study, Level-III.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a...
01:11Assessment of radial pulse
The radial pulse, located at the wrist, is often the preferred site for assessing peripheral pulse because of its accessibility and dependability. The process of determining the radial pulse involves several steps: