Age estimation by hand and wrist radiographs using the Greulich and Pyle method in a southern Thailand population

Age estimation is an important process for human identification. The Greulich and Pyle method is a well-known and non-invasive technique for age estimation, especially in children. Due to ethnical differences and secular changes in each population region, the aim of this study was to test the accuracy of the Greulich and Pyle method in subjects of southern Thailand. This study consisted of hand and wrist radiographs of 270 subjects aged between 9 and 14 years (156 males and 114 females). The accuracy of age estimation using the Greulich and Pyle method was assessed in males and females separately. The results revealed significant differences between the skeletal age and the chronological age in both sexes. The mean error values were 0.49 years and 0.58 years for males and females, respectively. Thus, further study is needed to develop a modified Greulich and Pyle method by defining the optimal age in each stage of the original Greulich and Pyle method.