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Bone maturity: estimation by means of Eklof and Ringertz method simplifications

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at presenting a process for estimating bone age by means of automatic simplifications of the Eklof & Ringertz method to provide reports as an aid to clinical diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carpal images from children and teenagers in the age range between 6 and 16 years were utilized for estimating their bone age based on simplifications ER5 and ER3, analyzing respectively 5 and 3 ossification centers. The automation of simplified methods utilizes specific procedures for processing radiographic images of the hand. RESULTS: The authors observed a high agreement with the average of medical reports based on the three classical methods (Greulich & Pyle, Tanner & Whitehouse, Eklof & Ringertz). The analysis of agreement with the proposed simplifications was performed with the paired Student's t-test considering a significance level of 5% and, in most of cases, statistically significant differences were not observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the present results, it is concluded that simplifications of the Eklof & Ringertz method allow a reliable, fast and automated estimation of the bone age. Additionally, the proposed simplifications are appropriate for estimating bone age on extensive data bases without the subjectivity that is present in the classical methods.

Bone age; Eklof and Ringertz; Carpal radiography


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