Age determination by MR imaging of the wrist in Egyptian male football players. How far is it reliable?

Conventional radiographs of the left wrist have been used for assessment of the skeletal age. However, radiation exposure, for this purpose has been considered invasive in the sporting environment. To study the reliability of MR imaging of the wrist for estimating bone age in Egyptian young male football players. Sixty-one football players between 13 and 18-year-old were recruited. All of them had well known certified chronological age. Coronal Spin-echo T1-weighted images in 3 mm slices were obtained. Three independent raters assessed the degree of fusion of the left radius using a recently developed grading system, composed of six grades. Moderate correlation between the MR skeletal age with the chronological age in Egyptian young male football players is noticed. Strong interobserver agreement about rating of grade of fusion by MRI has been shown. Moreover, we could build up a regression model for estimation of the players age from grade of fusion by MRI. Age determination by MR of the left wrist as a radiation - risk free tool provides moderate correlation with the chronological age. A reliable predictive rule for estimation of a player's age from grade of fusion by MRI could be achieved.