The interosseous tuberosities of the forearm exist from 1-year-old: a pediatric radiological study describing the ages of appearance of the different forearm reliefs.

PURPOSE: Interosseous tuberosities have been described in adults on the radial and ulnar sides. However, their presence at birth and their development during growth is still unknown. The objective of this work is to establish the age of onset of this tuberosity among a cohort of children aged 1-year-old or older.

METHODS: All anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs performed in our hospital during a consecutive period of 6 months were retrospectively analyzed. Exclusion criteria were: presence of a fracture, a tumor, an age higher than 16 years, radiograph not performed strictly from the front with supination or from the side. On the anterior-posterior radiograph, the presence of the following structures was sought: radial interosseous tuberosity and determination of its length and width; the appearance of the epiphyseal nucleus of the radial head, of the bicipital tuberosity, and of the distal epiphysis. On the lateral views, the presence of the following structures was sought: ulnar interosseous tuberosity and determination of its length and width; the appearance of the olecranon epiphyseal nucleus, and the distal epiphysis.

RESULTS: Over the review period, anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs were performed on 368 consecutive children. Finally, 179 patients were included in the radiographic analysis. The radial and ulnar interosseous tuberosities and bicipital tuberosity were present in all cases, from 1-year-old. Only the distal radial epiphysis began to appear at the age of one year, the others ossifying progressively during growth.

CONCLUSION: Tuberositas interossea ulnarii and radii exists, are present from 1-year-old and continue to develop during growth.