(Assessment of Pubertal Growth Spurt in Egyptian Adolescent Girls Using Middle Phalanx of the Middle Finger (MP3) and its Correlation with Bone Radiodensitometry Analysis (Alexandria Government) (Cross sectional study

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the pubertal growth spurt in Egyptian adolescent girls, using middle phalanx of the middle finger (MP3) as a skeletal maturity indicator. Additionally, the bone radiodensity in the pubertal stages was assessed using a radiodensitometry analysis and to correlate the bone radiodensity with pubertal stages.

This study was carried out at Alexandria governorate, as a part of a national project that covers most of governorates in Egypt, between the period of 9/2016 till 9/2017. A total sample of 1257 girls were included in the study, with an age range of (8 -14 years). Middle phalanx of the middle finger (MP3) was digitally radiographed for each subject. Each radiograph was interpreted and assigned its MP3 stage twice by the same assessor and by another assessor. Radiodensity was measured for a total sample of 30 radiographs, selected randomly and equally from each pubertal group of MP3 (pre-pubertal, pubertal, post-pubertal).