Estimation of Age in Adolescents—The Basilar Synchondrosis

Abstract

The state of fusion of the basilar synchondrosis as a biological age indicator was assessed in a sample of 91 cadavers of both sexes whose ages ranged between 8 and 26 years. The correlation between the degree of closure and chronological age was investigated. Although the female population sample was very small (n = 21), the data indicate a tendency of differences in age between the "open" and "closed" groups. In the male population (n = 70), no significant differences were detected between the “open” and “closed” categories; in fact, the mean age of the two groups was the same (p = 0.9). These findings indicate that the stage of fusion of the basilar synchondrosis is not a good indicator of age in male cadavers, while in females the feature could be useful when estimating age of unknown human remains, although further investigation on a larger sample is advocated.

Age-at-death estimation based on the macroscopic examination of Spheno-occipital sutures

“…30 But Kahana et al found no correlation between chronological age and the closure degree of the synchondrosis in males, although in females they found it a possible reliable indicator of age but they had a small sample comprising of 21 females. 2 We tried to examine a large sample of both sexes in this study. Our results showed that the closure degree of Spheno-occipital suture has a linear correlation with age.…”

“…29,30 Ethnical differences that have been among Kahana et al materials may be responsible to their wide discrepancy of synchondrosis fusion time. 2 We examined the state of fusion of the basilar synchondrosis as a biological age indicator in a sample of 376 cadavers of both sexes whose ages ranged between 8 and 26 years. Our findings indicated that the stage of fusion of the basilar synchondrosis can be a useful indicator of age in male and female cadavers, when estimating age of unknown human remains, although further investigation on different ethnic population is recommended.…”

“…The state of the suture was examined after removal of the covering of dura matter completely from the surface of the endocranium, between the rostral margin of the foramen magnum, through the body of the sphenoid bone and the Clinoid anterior processes. 1,2 The length of the cartilaginous part of the suture was measured and its consistency was examined with scalpel. They were divided to three groups: 1) Open: suture was open or less than ¼ had been calcified.…”

“…1 Seemingly, the disagreements in the reported degree of the sutures closure are related in some degree to the methods of assessment, i.e., direct inspection, imaging or histological examination and to the discipline of the investigator, i.e., forensic pathology or anatomy. 2 Also very likely ethnical and genetic factors have a significant role in determining cranial suture patterns and closure. 3e5 In this study we investigated the closure degree of the synchondrosis to verify its validity as an indicator of biological age in Tehran residents of Iranian population.…”

Estimating Age in Maori, Pacific Island, and European Children from New Zealand

“…Firstly, the degree of accuracy of the age estimate is inversely proportional to the length of time lived (11) and hence, biologic estimations of age are the most accurate in the early phases of development. Secondly, there are only two types of macroscopic parameters that are useful indicators of biological age: firstly, epiphyseal closure throughout the skeleton and secondly, dental age (12). Unfortunately, skeletal maturation is not well correlated with chronological age, nor are its underlying genetic processes well buffered, as they are known to be influenced by environment, lifestyle, and activity (e.g.…”