DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2021.v07i03.010

Pages: 115-119

Bone age estimation is one of the important applications of hand age radiography in the area of pediatrics, especially for the diagnosis, endocrinological problems and growth disorders. To investigate whether the commonly used international methods for assessment of bone age can be applicable for Sudanese children, and to evaluate the Sudanese data base of skeletal age putting into consideration the ethnic variability and socioeconomic status, which affect bone growth. The study consisted of 305 Sudanese patients 167 males’ and138 females with different chronological ages. These radiographs were compared with radiographic atlas of the skeletal development of the hand and wrist Greulich- Pyle atlas and Pocket atlas of skeletal age. The radiograph was interpreted by and expert pediatric radiologist who is unaware of the chronological age of the children. No statistically significant difference is found between the chronological age and age measured by radiologist using Pocket atlas and Radiographic atlas Greulich-Pyle atlas. The results suggest that Sudanese children may have the same pattern of skeletal maturation from that of American children from which the Greulich-Pyle standards is derived. And the study recommend more than one reader is interpreter in the future for the bone age to evaluate interobserver variability and hence to improve accuracy and to avoid bias.