[Order of appearance of ossification centers in the elbow of Mexican children between 6 months and 12 years old].

INTRODUCTION

Existing data of the order of appearance of ossification centers is from Anglo-Saxon literature. This literature describes the following order of appearance of the ossification centers of the distal humerus as follows: lateral condyle appears before one year of age, but it might delay up to 18-24 months; medial epicondyle between 5 to 6 years of age; the medal condyle between 9 to 10 years of age; the lateral epicondyle is the last one to ossify, between 10 to 12 years of age. Proximal radius ossifies between 3.8 and 4.5 years; olecranon at 6 to 8 years of age.

METHODS

We studied 240 elbows and classified them in 6 groups according to the age of appearance of ossification centers. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were taken, and analyzed.

RESULTS

We found a delay in the manifestation of the olecranon and the medial epicondyle. In base of our clinical observations, the ossification centers present later in Mexican children.