A preliminary study on the assessment of bone age in children and adolescents in frigid-zone regions by the CHN-05 method

Abstract

Bone age assessment is a key tool for monitoring growth and development in children and adolescents. This study analyzes bone age development characteristics among children and adolescents aged 6–18 years, to provide reference data for improving regional bone age standards. Bone age data were retrospectively collected and assessed using the CHN-05 method. The correlation and differences between bone age and chronological age were analyzed, developmental patterns were compared by gender, and regression equations were established. The CHN-05 method showed a strong correlation between bone age and chronological age (R = 0.952, p  < 0.001). A higher proportion of females had advanced bone age compared to males, whereas a higher proportion of males had delayed bone age. In males, mean bone age was slightly lower than chronological age before age 14 and slightly higher after 14, with significant differences at ages 7, 8, and 12 ( p  < 0.05). In females, mean bone age was slightly higher before age 15 and slightly lower after 15, No statistically significant differences were observed among individual age strata. ( p  > 0.05). Gender-specific linear regression equations were established: males: y = 0.886x + 1.445 (R = 0.96, p  < 0.001); females: y = 0.893x + 1.082 (R = 0.95, p  < 0.001). The CHN-05 method is reasonably suitable for bone age assessment in children and adolescents and provides valuable reference data for refining regional bone age standards.