What bone age is typically associated with precocious puberty?

What bone age is typically associated with precocious puberty?

• A. Delayed bone age
• B. Normal bone age
• C. Advanced bone age
• D. Variable bone age

Answer: (C)

Precocious puberty speeds up skeletal maturation, so the bone age is advanced relative to the child’s actual age. Bone age is determined by radiographs of the left hand and wrist and comparing the development of bones to standard references. When puberty starts early, hormones drive the bones to mature sooner, leading to an advanced bone age. Delayed bone age would point to factors like malnutrition or chronic illness, normal bone age matches the chronological age, and variable bone age isn’t the typical pattern seen with early puberty. Thus, advanced bone age best fits precocious puberty.

Precocious puberty speeds up skeletal maturation, so the bone age is advanced relative to the child’s actual age. Bone age is determined by radiographs of the left hand and wrist and comparing the development of bones to standard references. When puberty starts early, hormones drive the bones to mature sooner, leading to an advanced bone age. Delayed bone age would point to factors like malnutrition or chronic illness, normal bone age matches the chronological age, and variable bone age isn’t the typical pattern seen with early puberty. Thus, advanced bone age best fits precocious puberty.