Growth Assessment in Berlin
Adult height prediction for children and adolescents
- Assessment of growth, height and development
- Bone age assessment based on calculations or X-rays
- Orthopedic evaluation of growth disorders & height deviations
At some point, many parents ask themselves: "How tall will my child be?" Or they notice that their child seems significantly shorter or taller than peers of the same age. Not every deviation in height is a sign of illness. Sometimes it is a family predisposition or delayed development. In other cases, a growth disorder may be behind it.
A growth assessment helps to better evaluate the physical development of a child or adolescent. At MVZ VITALIS in Berlin-Buckow, our orthopedic specialists check whether growth, height, bone age and development are consistent with the child's age.
In addition to established formulas, bone age assessment can be an important part of the calculation. An X-ray of the hand is used to evaluate how far skeletal maturity has progressed. Together with height, age, growth curve and information about the parents, this allows an estimate of the expected adult height.
What is a growth assessment?
A growth assessment examines whether a child or adolescent is developing appropriately for their age. It is not only about current height but also about the course of growth over time.
Important questions include:
- How tall is the child currently?
- How fast has the child grown over the past months or years?
- On which percentile is the child's height?
- How tall are the parents?
- Are there signs of delayed or accelerated development?
- Are height, age and bone age consistent with each other?
A single measurement is often not enough to reliably assess growth. What often matters is the course over time: does a child stay on their growth curve or deviate significantly from it?
Skeletal age assessment and predicted adult height
Skeletal age, also called bone age, describes the degree of maturity of a child's skeleton. It can differ from the child's actual age. Some children develop physically later, others earlier.
If skeletal age is delayed, there may be more growth potential remaining. If bone age is significantly advanced, the remaining growth may be less. This assessment can help to better evaluate the expected adult height.
Adult height prediction is always a forecast. It can provide guidance but cannot guarantee an exact height. Growth depends on several factors, including genetic predisposition, pubertal development, health, nutrition and possible diseases.
When does a growth assessment make sense?
A growth assessment may make sense when parents, the pediatrician or a specialist notice abnormalities in growth. The question is often whether the child's height is still within the age-appropriate range or whether further evaluation is necessary.
Typical reasons include:
When a child is significantly shorter than peers of the same age or is falling behind in growth.
When a child grows significantly more slowly than expected over a longer period of time.
When girls or boys mature physically much earlier or later than their peers.
When an estimate is needed of the height a child is likely to reach.
When the remaining growth is important for further orthopedic planning.
When a developmental abnormality is already known and its course needs to be assessed.
Growth assessment in orthopedics
In orthopedics, this method is important not only for questions about height. It can also help with certain orthopedic issues, for example leg length discrepancies, axial misalignments, scoliosis or other changes during growth.
Especially in children and adolescents, it is crucial to know how much growth can still be expected. This can determine whether a misalignment is initially monitored, whether orthopedic aids make sense or whether further treatment should be planned.
At MVZ VITALIS, we therefore consider growth, height and orthopedic findings together. The goal is an assessment that fits the child's development and avoids unnecessary treatment.
When should the pediatrician also be involved?
For many questions about growth, puberty and development, the pediatrician is an important point of contact. This applies especially when there are other abnormalities in addition to height, such as fatigue, changes in weight, delayed puberty, chronic diseases or signs of hormonal causes.
An orthopedic growth assessment can provide important clues. If it raises suspicion of a hormonal, internal medicine or other cause requiring pediatric evaluation, appropriate further diagnostics should follow.
Good to know for parents
FAQ on growth assessment
The question of future height can never be answered with complete precision. However, adult height prediction can provide medical guidance. For this purpose, various pieces of information are combined: the child's current height, age and sex, growth rate, bone age and target height based on the parents.
The target height is derived from the parents' heights and indicates roughly what height can be expected genetically. Bone age also shows how far skeletal development has already progressed. From this data, an expected adult height can be calculated or estimated. However, this is always a forecast. It can provide medical guidance but cannot guarantee an exact future height.
Adult height prediction may make sense when a child is significantly shorter or taller than peers of the same age, when the growth rate is unusual or when the remaining growth is important for orthopedic questions.
First, height, weight, growth curve, development and, if necessary, orthopedic findings are assessed. If a bone age assessment makes sense, an X-ray of the left hand is usually taken. We then discuss with you whether growth appears appropriate for the child's age and whether further examinations or follow-up checks are necessary.
A bone age assessment usually requires only a single X-ray of the hand. The radiation exposure is low. Nevertheless, the examination should only be performed if it makes medical sense.
A delayed bone age can mean that the skeleton is not yet as developed as in peers of the same age. Depending on the situation, there may still be growth potential. However, the exact significance depends on the overall findings.
An advanced bone age can indicate that skeletal development is further along than expected for the child's age. As a result, the remaining growth may be less. Here, too, the physician's interpretation is crucial.
Short stature is defined as a height well below the typical range for age and sex. However, what matters is not just a single value but also the course on the growth curve and the height of the family.
Would you like to find out whether your child's growth, height or bone age is appropriate for their age? Then feel free to book an appointment at MVZ VITALIS in Berlin-Buckow.
Book a growth assessment now
Would you like to find out whether your child is growing appropriately for their age, how their bone age should be evaluated or roughly what adult height can be expected? Then feel free to book an appointment at MVZ VITALIS, Center for Orthopedics and Pain Therapy in Berlin-Buckow.
Our specialists will determine whether a growth assessment or bone age assessment makes sense and what further steps follow from the result.