Exam

Linear Growth Velocity

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Linear Growth Velocity, Growth Velocity

  • See Also
  1. Tall Stature
  2. Short Stature
  3. Growth Physiology
  4. Growth Assessment
  • Indications
  1. Growth Assessment
  2. Assessment for Collagen bone disease
  • Efficacy
  1. Single most important Growth Assessment screening tool
  • Exam
  • Normal height increase
  1. Age <1 year: 10.0 inches (25 cm, range 23-27cm) growth/year
    1. Age <6 months: 16 to 17 cm growth/year
    2. Age 6-12 months: 8 cm growth/year
  2. Age 1 to 2 years: 4.0 inches (10 cm, range 10-14 cm) growth/year
  3. Age 2 to 3 years: 3.2 inches (8 cm) growth/year
  4. Age 3 to 4 years: 2.8 inches (7 cm) growth/year
  5. Age 4 to 10 years: 2.0-2.4 inches (5-6 cm) growth/year
  6. Prepuberty Nadir
    1. Age 10 year old girl: 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) growth/year
    2. Age 12 year old boy: 1.9 inches (4.9 cm) growth/year
  7. Pubertal Acceleration
    1. Girls: 3.15 to 4.72 inches (8-12 cm) growth/year
    2. Boys: 3.94 to 5.51 inches (10-14 cm) growth/year
  • Interpretation
  • Abnormal Growth
  1. Growth/Year
    1. Age 3 years to Puberty: <1.75 inches (4.5 cm)
    2. Age 5 years to Puberty: <2 inches (5 cm)
  2. Minimum time interval between assessments
    1. Age <3 years: minimum 4 month interval
    2. Age >3 years: minimum 6 month interval
  • References
  1. Barstow (2015) Am Fam Physician 92(1): 43-50 [PubMed]