Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Normal values for metacarpal and phalangeal lengths in Nigerian children

  • Articles
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Metacarpal and phalangeal lengths were measured on 1290 hand radiographs of Nigerian children, aged 3–16 years. The radiographs were obtained during a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study of growth and development. There is a linear increase in tubular bone length with age in both sexes. The girls have higher values for all the bones up to the age of 13 years when the boys overtake them. Comparison of our data with those from North American children shows that the values amongst Nigerian children are higher than White, Black American and Mexican American children. Of particular note is the difference between Black American and Nigerian figures. It is postulated that the decreased metacarpophalangeal lengths in Black Americans compared with Nigerians may be due to ‘gene dilution’.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Garn SM (1972) The course of bone gain and the phases of bone loss. Orthop Clin North Am 3:503

    Google Scholar 

  2. Garn SM, Hertzog KP, Poznanski AK, Nagy JM (1972) Metacarpophalangeal length in the evaluation of skeletal malformation. Radiology 105:375

    Google Scholar 

  3. Garn SM, Sandusky ST, Nagy JM, McCann MB (1972) Advanced skeletal development in low income Negro children. J Pediatr 80:965

    Google Scholar 

  4. Garn SM, Sandusky ST, Nagy JM, Towbridge FL (1973) Negro-Caucasoid differences in permanent tooth emergence at a constant income level. Oral Biol 18:609

    Google Scholar 

  5. Garn SM, Poznanski AK, Larson KE (1976) In: Jaworski ZFG (ed) Proceedings of the first workshop on bone morphometry. University of Ottawa Press, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  6. Harris J, Chaput de Saintonge DM, Barnes CG (1973) Hand measurements in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 32:140

    Google Scholar 

  7. Poznanski AK (1984) The hand in radiologic diagnosis, 2nd edn. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 41

    Google Scholar 

  8. Poznanski AK, Garn SM, Nagy JM, Gall JC (1972) Metacarpophalangeal pattern profiles in the evaluation of skeletal malformation. Radiology 104:1

    Google Scholar 

  9. Reed TE (1969) Caucasian genes in American Negroes. Science 165:762

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Child Health and Community Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

    John C. Odita M.B. B.S., D.A.B.R., Angela A. Okolo M.D., F.R.C.P. & Flora Ukoli M.B.B.S., D.P.H.

Authors
  1. John C. Odita M.B. B.S., D.A.B.R.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Angela A. Okolo M.D., F.R.C.P.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Flora Ukoli M.B.B.S., D.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Odita, J.C., Okolo, A.A. & Ukoli, F. Normal values for metacarpal and phalangeal lengths in Nigerian children. Skeletal Radiol. 20, 441–445 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191088

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191088

Key words

Search

Navigation