Bone Age Determination of Epiphyseal Union Around Wrist Joint and its Correlation with Chronological Age: A Radiological Study in a Jordanian Population

Aiman Al-Qtaitat¹*, Jihad Alzyoud², Mohammad Al-Rawashdeh³, Said Al-Dalaen⁴ and Aiman Al-Maathadi¹

¹Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Hashimite University, Zarqa, Jordan.

³Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alkarak Governmental Hospital, Karak, Jordan.

⁴Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan.

Corresponding Author's email: aimanaq2000@yahoo.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2004

ABSTRACT: Age determination is one of the most important parameters for human identification. Radiographic changes during epiphyseal union provide an important means to estimate the age of adolescent and young adult skeletons. This study aims to investigate the relationship between stage of epiphyseal union at the wrist joint and chronological age in a Jordanian population. The study was carried out in a total of 101 antero-posterior radiographs of healthy subjects (45 girls and 56 boys) aging from 12 to 22 years. The obtained results from the radiographs enrolled in the current study revealed that the complete union of lower end of radius is seen at 20-21 years. The complete union of lower end of ulna is seen at 20-21 years. Females were consistently developing epiphyseal union at a younger age than their male counterparts, with a two years difference. The results suggested that the ages of epiphyseal union are found to vary greatly all over the world indicating the need for separate standards of ages of epiphyseal union for separate regions.

KEYWORDS: epiphyseal union; age estimation; epiphysis; ossification; radius; ulna; bone age; skeletal maturation; wrist joint

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