Comparative analysis of the bone age of wrist bones in Chinese children with different causes of short stature and central precocious puberty.

Background: Different types of bones develop and mature with distinct characteristics under the influence of different endocrine factors. However, comparative investigations of bone age (BA) disparities among diverse endocrine disorders remain limited. This study was designed to compare and analyze BA in children with different endocrine conditions and to explore the effect of disease on various types of skeletal maturity. Methods: Five groups of children with the following diagnoses who underwent BA X-ray examination were retrospectively included: growth hormone deficiency (GHD, 43 cases), central precocious puberty (CPP, 89 cases), hormone-dependent or drug-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS, 49 cases) treated with glucocorticoid for more than 1 year, craniopharyngioma (25 cases), and healthy controls (39 cases). The children's BA in each group was assessed using the Chinese 05 method and compared to their chronological age. Results: The GHD and INS groups had delayed BA relative to physiological age. The delayed C-series results were statistically significant (2.09±1.03, 2.20±1.43 years, P<0.05), and the difference in R-C BA was statistically significant. In the craniopharyngioma group, the delayed results of the R and C series were statistically significant (2.04±1.13, 2.70±1.16 years, P<0.05). In the CPP group, the BA of R and C series were advanced (1.58±0.63, 0.86±0.74 years, P<0.05), and the difference of R-C BA was statistically significant (0.71±0.38, P<0.05). The BA results were statistically significant in all four groups of patients compared to those of healthy controls. Conclusions: Considering the R and C series of BA and the difference between the two will help to diagnose endocrine disorders and assess therapeutic efficacy.