Heath and Carter are renowned for their groundbreaking work in the field of human growth and development, particularly for their development of the Heath-Carter method for predicting skeletal maturity and estimating adult stature based on radiographic measurements of the hand and wrist.
Their seminal paper, “A modified classification of Mankin’s stages of skeletal maturity” published in 1967, introduced a revised classification system for assessing skeletal maturity using radiographic images of the hand and wrist. This classification system, known as the Heath-Carter method, expanded upon earlier methods developed by Mankin and others by incorporating additional radiographic criteria and refining the staging criteria for skeletal maturation.
The Heath-Carter method assigns numerical scores to various skeletal features observed on hand-wrist radiographs, such as the appearance of epiphyses, the fusion of growth plates, and the ossification of specific bones. These scores are then used to classify individuals into different stages of skeletal maturation, ranging from prepubertal to adult stages. By comparing an individual’s skeletal maturity score to established reference standards, clinicians can assess a person’s biological age, predict their remaining growth potential, and estimate their eventual adult stature.
The Heath-Carter method has become widely used in pediatric endocrinology, orthopedics, sports medicine, and forensic anthropology for assessing growth and maturation, diagnosing growth disorders, evaluating treatment outcomes, and estimating adult height in children and adolescents. It has also been incorporated into numerous growth prediction models and software tools used in clinical practice and research settings.
Heath and Carter’s contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of human growth and development and provided valuable tools for clinicians and researchers to assess skeletal maturity, monitor growth trajectories, and optimize patient care. Their work continues to have a lasting impact on fields related to human growth, orthopedics, and skeletal biology, demonstrating the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and empirical research in advancing medical science.