A CORRELATION OF PEAK HEIGHT VELOCITY AND OLECRANON APOPHYSIS OSSIFICATOIN ASSESSED BY ULTRASOUND

Abstract

Peak height velocity (PHV) is defined as the perod of the fastest growth during puberty. An ability to predict annual gowth and timing of PHV may provide an opportunity to modify treatment of many diseases and conditions of the skeletal system.There is good correlation of peak height velocity and skeletal age determined by olecranon radiographs. To avoid radiation we tested value of olecranon ultrasound in predicition of annual growth and peak height velocity. In present study, using ultrasound we made classification of olecranon apophysis in 7 levels (0-7) according to the amount of unossified cartilage leftover. In 134 healthy children aged 10 to 15 evaluation of olecranon sonographs and staging was done by two observers in two spaced time intervals. Calculaton of intra-examiner and inter-examiner agreement presented satisfactory reliability (intetrclass correlation coefficient for Rater 1=0.967 and Rater 2=0.836) and very good rerproducibility (Cohen’s Kappa 0.85).We measured increase in height during six month period for 54 children classified by ultrasound in leves from 0 to 6. The greatest growth was noted in children classified as level 4. Olecranon apophysis maturity level 4 assessed by ultrasound could correspodent to peak height velocity.