Bone Age in Children with Minimal Brain Dysfunction

Abstract

53 children diagnosed as having minimal brain dysfunction by the criteria of Clements had X-rays of their left wrist and hand for the determination of bone age. All X-rays were read independently by three physicians skilled in radiology. The films were read blind, that is, sex and case numbers but not age were available. The degree of inter-rater reliability was very high ( r = 0.87). Bone age for the minimal brain dysfunction group was significantly retarded ( p < 0.01) compared with the standard group's norms. Bone ages of more than 2 SD below the mean occurred in 10 children, while only one child showed a bone age of more than 2 SD above the mean. Two-thirds of the children in the minimal brain dysfunction group fell below the mean of the standard norms. No correlation was found between bone age and thyroid level. These findings suggest that children diagnosed as having minimal brain dysfunction may be physiologically retarded in their bone age, although marked individual variations remain. The concept of physiological immaturity should be considered by professionals in the education and social planning for the child with minimal brain dysfunction.