Skeletal Maturity Indicators
“What are Fishman’s Skeletal Maturity Indicators and why do they matter?”
Leonard S Fishman in 1982 had proposed this system.
- Fishman had used four anatomical sites, i.e. location on thumb, third figer, fit figer and radius.
- Eleven discrete adolescent skeletal maturity indicators covering entire period of adolescent development are described.
- Fishman system of interpretation uses four stages of bone maturation which are:
- Epiphysis equal in width to diaphysis
- Appearance of adductor sesamoid of thumb
- Capping of epiphysis
- Fusion of epiphysis.
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- Following are the Fishman’s skeletal maturity indicators:
- S.M.I 1: The third finger proximal phalanx shows equal width of epiphysis and diaphysis.
- S.M.I 2: Width of epiphysis is equal to that of diaphysis in the middle phalanx of third finger.
- S.M.I 3: Width of epiphysis is equal to that of diaphysis in the middle phalanx of fit finger.
- S.M.I 4: Appearance of adductor sesamoid of the thumb
- S.M.I 5: Capping of epiphysis seen in distal phalanx of third finger.
- S.M.I 6: Capping of epiphysis seen in middle phalanx of third finger.
- S.M.I 7: Capping of epiphysis seen in middle phalanx of fit finger.
- S.M.I 8: Fusion of epiphysis and diaphysis in the distal phalanx of third figer.
- S.M.I 9: Fusion of epiphysis and diaphysis in the proximal phalanx of third figer.
- S.M.I 10: Fusion of epiphysis and diaphysis in the middle phalanx of third figer.
- S.M.I 11: Fusion of epiphysis and diaphysis is seen in the radius.
“Importance of studying Fishman’s Skeletal Maturity Indicators for better outcomes”
S.M.I denotes skeletal maturity indicator.

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