Bone Age and Growth Plate Fusion

Growth Plate Fusion Timeline

• By the time growth plates fuse at the end of puberty, skeletal growth is complete, which typically happens after bone age 13, according to the American College of Radiology 1, 2

Bone Age Assessment Considerations

• Bone age assessments should be interpreted with caution in patients with certain conditions like achondroplasia, as stated by the Endocrine Society 3
• When annual height velocity has slowed to <1.5 cm per year, radiography should be performed to check the status of growth plates; closed growth plates indicate the end of growth potential, as recommended by the Endocrine Society 3

Clinical Implications

• During puberty, radiography should be performed every 1-2 years to confirm growth plates remain open in patients where growth monitoring is clinically important, according to the Endocrine Society 3