Abstract
Introduction
The Hamann-Todd collection at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Cleveland, OH, USA) includes 63 paediatric skeletal specimens in varying condition and completeness. The initial data collection included representative skeletons of children aged 1–18 years. The aim of this study was to better understand the growth patterns of the paediatricspine and ribs.
Methods
Data from vertebrae and corresponding ribs were collected. Data included 46 measurements from the vertebral body and ribs at T1, T4, T7, T10, and L3. Measurements were obtained with Vernier calipers, tape measures, and photographs of each bone. Several specimens were digitised with a Next Engine 3D laser scanner. The initial analysis used caliper-derived data, with some measurements obtained from photographs. The data were analysed by age, specific bone, and morphological features. More than 2000 cross correlations were studied. Linear regressions were done on scalar measurements with SAS (version 9.1.3) and JMP (version 8.0). Although the general demographics for each child were known, specifics such as height and weight or previous trauma were not.
Results
Data analysis showed linear relationships in the ribs and growing spine. For example, the figure shows the data and linear regression for the right rib at T7 for each age. Rib width showed no significant increase with age (r2=0·001), whereas rib height had a linear increase (r2=0·754). Other measurements, such as costal length, were highly correlated with age.
Conclusions
Direct measurements of paediatric cadaveric bones can be statistically analysed to provide insight into normal human growth. The data show a linear growth of the spine and rib cage from ages 1–18 years. Relatively little is known about the normal growth of human ribs and spine. This is the first known osteological data collection of the growing ribs and spine in non-scoliotic children. Understanding of chest growth will help to improve treatment of spine and chest-wall deformity in growing children.
