Bone Age at 17 Years: Boy and Girl Hand X-Ray Reference
These reference radiographs show the typical appearance of the hand and wrist of a 17 year old boy and a 17 year old girl for bone age assessment. At the end of skeletal maturation only the last growth plates remain, and then they close. The distal radius and ulna are the final sites of fusion, and once they are closed the skeleton of the hand and wrist has reached adult form. Remaining growth potential is minimal.
17 year old boy hand x-ray
In boys the distal radial and ulnar physes typically close between 17 and 19 years. At 17 a thin lucency may still be visible at the distal radius, while at 18 most boys show complete or nearly complete fusion with a faint physeal scar.
17 year old girl hand x-ray
In girls fusion of the distal radius and ulna is usually complete by about 17 years, and by 18 the radiograph is that of a skeletally mature adult. Any remaining growth in height at this stage is minimal.
What to look for at 17 years
- Phalangeal and metacarpal physes are fused
- Distal radius and ulna are the last sites to close
- Girls complete fusion by about 17 years, boys by 18 to 19 years
- A physeal scar may remain visible after closure
How to use these reference images
Obtain a PA radiograph of the left hand and wrist and compare it side by side with the reference image for the matching sex. If the patient’s radiograph looks more mature, move to an older reference; if it looks less mature, move to a younger one. The best match gives the estimated bone age, which you can then combine with chronological age and current height to predict adult height.
Neighbouring ages: Bone Age at 16 Years and Bone Age at 18 Years. Browse every age point in the complete bone age atlas by age.