Advanced RUS and normal carpal bone age in childhood obesity

Skeletal maturation was evaluated in 60 prepubertal children aged 7.7 +/- 0.27 years (range 2.7-12.6). The radius, ulna and short bones (RUS) and the carpal (CARP) bone age were assessed. Height corresponded to 1 +/- 0.1 Z scores.

RUS bone age was 1.04 +/- 0.2 years more advanced than chronological age (P = 0.0001). CARP bone age was only 0.2 +/- 0.2 years more advanced than chronological age and the difference was not significant. However, the degree of advancement of CARP bone age in respect of chronological age was significantly (P = 0.0001) correlated with height Z scores.

CARP bone age is less sensitive than RUS bone age to the factors promoting the early skeletal maturation in obese children. Nevertheless, the degree of CARP bone age advancement, although minimal, is correlated with overheight.