OSSIFICATION AND MATURATION OF BONES OF HAND AND WRIST AMONG THE CHINESE

A radiographical investigation on the time of appearance of ossification center andunion of epiphyses to the shaft of bones of hand and wrist was carried out in 1,890normal and healthy children (960 males and 924 females) in Shanghai. They weredivided into 22 age groups, ranging from new born, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 yearsand then yearly up to 18 years of age. Both hands and wrists were radiographed. The result is as follows: The ossification centers of the carpal bones appear in the following order: os capita-tum; os hematum; epiphysis of ulna; os triquetrum; os lunatum; os trapezium; os trape-zoideum; os scaphoideum, epiphysis of radius and os pisiforme. The appearance of the ossification centers and fusion of the opiphyses of the bonesof hand and wrist in the females occurs 1--2 years earlier than the males. The symmetrical appearance of the ossification centers of bones of both hands andwrists occurs in 56.5% and asymmetrical ones in 43.5%. Fusion of epiphyses of bones of both hands and wrists takes place symmetrically orsimultaneously at a higher ratio (78.8%). A standard type of ossification and maturation of bones of hand and wrist togetherwith drawings has been proposed for each age group.