Assessment of the skeletal maturity in Libyan preschool children

Abstract Introduction Bone age assessment is one of the commonly used methods in pediatric practice for detection of discrepancies between bone age and chronological age, which may point at problems with normal skeletal development and be helpful in diagnosing endocrinological or growth disorders. Materials and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using wrist and hand radiographs of Libyan preschool children aged 3 to less than 6 years. Study participants were grouped by age as follows: 3 years (58 boys, 62 girls), 4 years (46 boys, 62 girls), and 5 years (70 boys, 42 girls). Evaluation of carpal bone age was done according to Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) method. Comparisons of chronological age (CA) and carpal bone age (CBA) according to sex and age were statistically analyzed. Results A statistically significant sex difference in CBA was observed only in the first age group, where males showed a higher mean CBA compared to females. No significant sex differences were identified in the second and third groups. Furthermore, a significant difference between CA and CBA was found only among males in the youngest age group, where CBA exceeded CA. In contrast, no significant differences were detected among females or in either sex within the older age groups. Conclusion CBA is generally consistent with CA in Libyan preschool children. However, sex-related differences in skeletal maturation were observed in the youngest age group, where males demonstrated higher CBA than females.