[Development of ossification in children with chronic digestive insufficiency (author's transl)].

In 84 children suffering from chronic insufficiency of digestion, ossification of both hands was observed by means of fluoroscopic controls for several years. In 48 of 71 patients there was a retarded ossification; in 23 it was normal, or respectively more advanced. 18 boys and girls succeeded in making up for there retardation by means of consequent diet so that it might be regarded as a "spurt of growth". But in 10 of them retardation was constant, and in 14 children it increased. The causes of insufficient improvement were: late diagnosis and therapy, failures of diet, but also additional diseases--different from digestive insufficiency--, and long-term use of corticosteroides. In 30 of 84 children ossification was always normal or advanced. They had received early and consequent diet for years. Only in few cases, slight or moderate diseases were diagnosed. Development of ossification was parallel to body height, but not to weight gain.