Study of Growth & skeletal Development in Sickle Cell Anemic Patients

Objective: It is well known that sickle cell anemia influence growth&skeletal development. However the clinicians caring for patients with sickle cell anemia has no growth curves or guidelines for predicting when skeletal maturation is likely to occur. This study was designed to analyze the growth&skeletal development in sickle cell anemic patient

Material&method: Present study comprises 120 subjects (61 female, 59 male) attending sickle cell clinic at Indira Gandhi government medical college, Nagpur.&122 normal subjects (69 female, 53 male), age range was 5-20 yrs. Height&weight was measured. Single radiograph of left hand&wrist were taken from sickle cell patient. A criterion by Sharat was used to determine skeletal maturity.

Results: Sickle cell anemic patients show significantly less height&weight as compared to control. Appearance of ossification center for lunate, trapezium, trapezoid, Ist metacarpal&other metacarpals was delayed. Fusion of epiphysis with diaphysis in metacarpals, phalanges&distal end of radius and ulna was delayed.

Conclusion: Growth of sickle cell anemic children is definitely affected. Children are shorter&weigh less. Appearance&fusion of ossification centers is delayed.