Skeletal Maturity in Adolescence: Evaluating Bone Development and Age Metrics.

: Bone maturation and development are crucial for growth and development, especially in children and adolescents; however, some qualitative methods, such as Greulich & Pyle, do not provide accurate data. Our aim is to verify whether skeletal age (SA) can predict and correlate with bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition (BC). : A cross-sectional study was conducted on 115 male adolescents (ages 12.1-15.8 years). Skeletal age was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) method, while BMC, BMD, and BC were measured using full-body DXA. Anthropometric data, including height and body mass, were also recorded. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods and bivariate correlation coefficients. : SA was significantly correlated with stature (r = 0.598, = 0.001) and body mass (r = 0.517, = 0.001), showing a stronger association than chronological age (CA) for these variables. Body composition variables, including lean mass (LM) (r = 0.521, = 0.001) and fat tissue (FT) (r = 0.522, = 0.001), also showed a stronger correlation with SA than CA. However, associations between SA and bone parameters were weaker: BMC (r = 0.103, = 0.275) and BMD (r = 0.161, = 0.086) did not reach statistical significance. When stratified by SA/CA tertiles, individuals in the highest tertile exhibited slightly greater BMC (1439 ± 108.32 g) and BMD (1.028 ± 0.127 g/cm), though without a significant effect. These findings suggest a dynamic but complex relationship between skeletal age and bone development. : SA demonstrates a stronger association with anthropometric and body composition variables than CA, highlighting its potential as a predictor of growth used in conjunction with LM and FM. However, its relationship with BMD and BMC remains inconclusive, warranting further longitudinal research, considering limitations regarding nutritional intake.