A1 Journal article (refereed)
The skeletal maturity of Australian children aged 10–13 years in 2016 (2021)


Duckham, R. L., Hawley, N. L., Rodda, C., Rantalainen, T., & Hesketh, K. D. (2021). The skeletal maturity of Australian children aged 10–13 years in 2016. Annals of Human Biology, 48(2), 150-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2021.1909137


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsDuckham, Rachel L.; Hawley, Nicola L.; Rodda, Christine; Rantalainen, Timo; Hesketh, Kylie D.

Journal or seriesAnnals of Human Biology

ISSN0301-4460

eISSN1464-5033

Publication year2021

Publication date18/04/2021

Volume48

Issue number2

Pages range150-152

PublisherTaylor & Francis

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2021.1909137

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open accessChannel is not openly available


Abstract

Skeletal maturity can be used as a biological indicator of the tempo of growth in children and adolescents. We present a description of skeletal maturity from a cohort of white Australian children and describe variation in skeletal maturity based on child age. Participants (n = 71; age 10.5–13.9 years) were recruited from the ‘Healthy, Active Preschool & Primary Years (HAPPY)’ study. Left hand-wrist radiographs were used to determine skeletal maturity using the Tanner-Whitehouse III (TW3) RUS technique. In boys, the mean skeletal maturity offset (bone age – chronological age) was −0.12 ± 0.19 years and 57.9% had delayed skeletal maturity compared to chronological age. Among those with delayed skeletal maturity, the average delay was 0.99 years (range 0.02–2.54 years). In girls, skeletal age was advanced, on average, compared to chronological age by 0.32 ± 0.20 years. Among the 39.4% of girls with delayed skeletal maturity, the average delay was 0.48 years (range: 0.01–2.28). Four children in the sample exhibited a delay in skeletal maturity greater than 2 years. In the context of secular trends towards advanced skeletal maturity observed globally, delayed skeletal maturation in this white, economically privileged cohort are surprising and warrant further exploration.


Keywordsmaturationskeletal systemgrowthchildren (age groups)boysgirls

Free keywordsmaturation; skeletal; growth; boys and girls


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2021

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 09:19