Ossification of femoral head in infancy. I. Normal standards

Area of Science:

• Pediatric orthopedics
• Developmental pediatrics
• Radiology

Background:

• Femoral head ossification is a key indicator of skeletal maturity in infants.
• Establishing normative data is crucial for accurate clinical assessment.
• Previous studies may lack comprehensive data stratified by sex and age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference standards for the timing of femoral head ossification.
• To define reference standards for the size of femoral ossification centers.
• To analyze these standards based on infant sex and age.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of radiographic data from 455 infants in Malmö.
• Inclusion criteria: assumedly normal ossification of the femoral heads.
• Data collection focused on age at ossification onset and ossification center size.

Main Results:

• Reference standards for the age at onset of femoral head ossification were determined.
• Reference standards for the size of the ossification centers were established.
• Significant differences in ossification timing and size were observed between sexes and across age groups.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable normative data for femoral head ossification in infants.
• These reference standards can aid clinicians in assessing skeletal development.
• Further research may explore the clinical implications of variations in ossification patterns.