Chromosome analysis should be performed on any girl unexpectedly short for her family; signs of puberty should not inhibit this investigation since twenty per cent of girls with Turner's syndrome have signs of spontaneous sexual development. The only constant feature is short stature. The management of Turner's syndrome requires a growth-promoting regimen in childhood (GH or low-dose sex steroids) and phased introduction of oestrogen from the twelfth year of life Unfortunately, although these treatments are beneficial to the child in the short term and promote normal secondary sexual characteristics, they have been unimpressive in terms of the final height that is achieved.
