Skeletal age prediction model from percentage of adult height in children and adolescents

Abstract

Skeletal age (SA) is considered the gold standard to assess the degree of maturation and has been widely used in sports, education and public health areas; however, it requires sophisticated equipment and well-trained technicians. Therefore, it is important to develop non-invasive methods for its evaluation. The aim was to develop an equation to predict SA using the percentage of adult height. SA was measured by Tanner-Whitehouse-3 method, and the percentage of adult height was estimated by two methodologies: Tanner-Whitehouse-3 method (P-TW3) and Khamis-Roche method (P-KR) using 839 schoolchildren of both sexes. Linear regression was used for predicting SA from P-TW3; then P-TW3 was replaced in the equation for P-KR value. Bland–Altman graphs, interclass correlation coefficient and Kappa index were used as validation tests. Model showed a SA predictive capacity of 93.2% in boys and 96.8% in girls. The average differences between SA measured and SA predicted by P-TW3 was 0.0504 (± 0.664) in boys and 0.0144 (± 0.435) in girls (P = 0.229 and 0.667, respectively). When P-TW3 was replaced for P-KR value in the equation, the average differences were − 0.0532 in boys and 0.0850 in girls (P = 0.509 and 0.167 respectively). The present model, based on the percentage of adult height, showed an adequate estimation of SA in children and adolescents and it can be used in the absence of bone X-ray equipment, in healthy boys aged 9 to 15 and girls 8 to 13.

Maturity Has a Greater Association than Relative Age with Physical Performance in English Male Academy Soccer Players

“…This method requires access to specialist equipment and expertise, and is not accessible to most practitioners working in youth sport. Instead, maturity was estimated using %PAH, which is widely used in youth sport and particularly soccer, and has been shown to be a reliable method for estimating maturity [18,27]. While the current study has made a significant contribution to the literature surrounding the relationship between maturity status and performance, field-based methods were used to assess performance.…”

“…Recent longitudinal analysis to observe timing of PHV illustrated that %PAH was accurate 96% of the time, with maturity offset correct only 61% of the time [17]. The error of prediction in the %PAH equation has been estimated to be ~2 cm [16] and %PAH has been shown to correlate with skeletal age [18]. This has resulted in %PAH being used as a popular method of estimating maturity in youth [19] and has become increasingly popular within soccer [20] where it is used throughout the Premier League's management application.…”

Skeletal age prediction models by maturity atatus in male soccer players

“…In previous research, a similar equation has been developed to estimate SA from P-KR within the general Portuguese population [33]. This equation presented a good predicting capability, 84% in girls and 83% in boys when P-KR was used in the [33].…”

“…In previous research, a similar equation has been developed to estimate SA from P-KR within the general Portuguese population [33]. This equation presented a good predicting capability, 84% in girls and 83% in boys when P-KR was used in the [33]. Flores et al [33] established this by implementing a two phased methodological approach comprised of initially, establishing model coe cient determined the P-TW3 method, which uses SA from the Tanner et al, [14] III method, reducing prediction errors.…”

“…This equation presented a good predicting capability, 84% in girls and 83% in boys when P-KR was used in the [33]. Flores et al [33] established this by implementing a two phased methodological approach comprised of initially, establishing model coe cient determined the P-TW3 method, which uses SA from the Tanner et al, [14] III method, reducing prediction errors. Then subsequently, substituting the P-TW3 value with the P-KR value, assuming that both protocols estimate a similar percentage of adult height.…”