[Reliability of the Sauvegrain and Nahum method to assess bone age in a contemporary population]

Abstract

Purpose: The Sauvegrain and Nahum method can be used to assess bone age in addition to methods based on hand and wrist radiographs in children between 9 and 15 years of age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of this method in a contemporary population.

Material and methods: Elbow radiographs taken for acute trauma in 106 patients (42 girls, 64 boys) aged from 9 to 15 years old were analyzed by four radiologists. Inclusion in the study required the absence of chronic disease and previous trauma as well as parental consent.

Results: There was no significant difference between the four observers. The differences between bone age (BA) and chronological age (CA) were 5+/-1 months for the study group, 3.5+/-9 months for the female group, and 6+/-12 months for the male group. Bone age was overestimated compared with chronological age. There was a good correlation between CA and BA (r = 0.84).

Conclusion: The Sauvegrain and Nahum method seems to overestimate CA in a contemporary population.