Bone age estimation: a comparison of methods.

Bone ages assessed by the TW2 method and the GP atlas were compared in 97 children radiographed for trauma. Bone age assessed by the TW2 method was slightly closer to chronological age than the GP estimate, but TW2 was slightly less reproducible between observers. Given the relatively laborious and time-consuming nature of the TW2 method, there seems little point in promoting its use in the general hospital setting. The GP method was improved by recalibrating the standard radiographs to match the local population.