[Evaluation of bone maturity: the simplified percentile method of the skeletal profile]

A new method is presented for the evaluation of skeletal growth; it is a simplification of an already known too time-consuming method. A single left wrist-and-hand X-ray is required; examining the morphology of five hand and wrist bones (different according to age) the examined subject can be judged either normal, or requiring a more thorough examination. The results shown were achieved comparing, on 286 roentgenograms, the new simplified method with the already standardized ones. The use of the new method is not only advised because of its simplicity but because of its lack of false negatives as well in the authors' experience.