[Radiographic research on skeletal measurements and morphology of the normal hand of the Japanese. Part Two: Child (growth stage)].

: The present investigation was undertaken to develop a standard method of recording the bone measurements of the normal hand for use in comparative studies of genetic abnormalities of the skeletal system affecting the hand. The data for this study were obtained from the radiographs of the hand of normal 428 males and 393 females between ages of 1 and 19 and in the 20s. Length and width of all the phalanges and metacarpals were recorded. The phalangeal index and metacarpal index of each bone were obtained by dividing the length by the width. Frequencies of brachymesophalangy of the small finger and brachytelephalangy of the thumb and pseudoepiphysis of the 2nd metacarpals were investigated. No significant difference was noted between the bones of the right and left hand. Based on these results, the development of finger bone during normal growth of healthy infants are clearly delineated.