Hilbert Lentz

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there is a correlation between the times of closure of the epiphyses of the hand and the time of ossification of the ulnar sesamoid of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.

The time for these events was studied in twenty-three males and fourteen females for which appropriate hand radiographs were available. Radiographs were made every three months and epiphyseal closure was studied in these beginning with the one in which the sesamoid first appeared. The maximum time for study after sesamoid closure was twenty-four months.

Only one subject showed complete closure of the epiphyses of the hand during study. Most subjects were only approaching 40-50 percent closure. No really dependable sequence of epiphyseal closure appeared but there were two epiphyses (proximal phalanx of fourth and fifth digit) which closed earliest in a large percentage of the patients. On the basis of the number of subjects followed and the time they were followed it is difficult to make any predictions dependent on which particular epiphyses are closed.

Graphs were made of the average number of epiphyses closed as a function of time post sesamoid appearance. These showed that there is a general trend for rapid increase in closure starting about fifteen months post sesamoid appearance. The limited number of subjects suggests that the individual behavior is so variable as to make prediction unreliable within the time interval covered by the study.

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics

Department

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Ronald D. Walters

Second Advisor

Alden B. Chase

Third Advisor

Lee E. Olsen

Fourth Advisor

Walter L. Stilson

Fifth Advisor

Richard L. Thompkins

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1970

Date (Title Page)

5-1970

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Epiphyses; Osteogenesis Growth

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 53

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS