Using the Sauvegrain Method to Predict Peak Height Velocity in Boys and Girls

Abstract

Correlating peak height velocity (PHV) with assessments of skeletal maturity has important implications in the treatment of scoliosis and other pediatric orthopaedic disorders. This study aims to compare the appearance of the elbow to the PHV in both boys and girls. We selected 20 children who participated in the Brush Inquiry, a comprehensive study of the development of healthy children. The PHV was identified for each subject. Three observers used the Sauvegrain method to score the elbow maturity of these subjects at 5 visits (PHV -2 years, PHV -1 year, PHV, PHV +1 year, PHV +2 years). Reliability was tested with intraclass correlation coefficients, and maturity scores were compared with the PHV timing. An interrater reliability score of r = 0.915 and an intrarater reliability score of r = 0.909 indicate that this method can be reliably and consistently applied to differentiate elbow x-rays of varying skeletal maturities in children. The mean total scores of boys and girls seem to be equal at the 5 visits. There were no total scores of 26 or higher for boys or girls at PHV. The Sauvegrain score in adolescent boys and girls is reliable, and a score of 26 or higher indicates that the child has passed PHV. There is a strong trend for the mean total score of boys to equal that of girls at each stage relative to the PHV. Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.