Growth Rate of Adolescent Females is Related to Urinary N-Telopeptide

Functional bracing as a method for treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is most effective when undertaken during the ascending part of an adolescent’s peak growth velocity curve. To date there have been no prospective determinants of growth velocity.

Urinary N-Telopeptide is a collagen degradation product currently used as a marker of bone turnover in the treatment of Osteoporosis. It was hypothesized that Adolescent Growth Rates would be related to Urinary NTelopeptide levels. No relationship between Growth Rate and Urinary N-Telopeptide had previously been determined.

A cohort of fifty normal adolescent girls aged from 10-13 was examined. Serial anatomical measurements of standing height, sitting height, arm span, hand length and foot length were performed every 3 months for 2 years. At each measurement a sample of urine was analyzed for N-Telopeptide/Creatinine ratio. From theses measurements Growth Rate was calculated and a relationship with Urinary N-Telopeptide sought.

Significant relationships were found between Urinary N-Telopeptide and the growth rates measured by Standing Height (p<0 .0001), Sitting Height (p="0.00056)" and Arm Span (p<0.0001). The linear relationships observed allow prediction of growth velocity based on urinary N-Telopeptide.

The prospective knowledge of a patient’s growth velocity will facilitate the rational use of bracing as a means for controlling curve progression in the Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliotic.