Evaluation of manubriosternal joint fusion and second costal cartilage calcification: Are they useful for estimating advanced age groups?

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the manubriosternal joint (MSJ) to estimate the minimum chronological age of complete fusion, and how changes in this joint influence age estimation. The study also focused on investigating the calcification patterns of the second costal cartilage (SCC), as they may be related to age. Between January and September 2020, individuals between 30 and 80 years of age, who underwent chest tomography at our institution, were listed by sex and divided into five groups according to age with intervals of 10 years. Twenty patients from each age group and sex were randomly selected, and 200 patients were evaluated. The relationship between age and changes in MSJ and SCC was evaluated. The incidence of complete fusion did not differ significantly between the 30 and 80 age groups. A significant difference was found between the age groups and MSJ degeneration (p < 0.001). The degree of MSJ degeneration and calcification in SCC significantly increased with age, but the range was wide. These values might be used to support traditionally accepted age‐estimation methods but not as independent indicators of specific age ranges.

Forensic age-at-death estimation using the sternal junction in Thai adults: an autopsy study

“…In this study, the fusion of the manubrio-sternal junction occurs in all age groups after the age of 30 years in females and 36 years in males. Fusion at the manubrio-sternal junction can occur through primary or matrical fusion (not age-related) and secondary or sclerotic fusion (probably age-related) [ 10 , 12 , 17 , 18 ]. The primary cartilaginous joint between the manubrium and mesosternum can be obliterated during early life and this process is thought to be the cause of the matrical fusion.…”

“…All of these studies found that the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions fused at different times. Studies in this regard have been carried out in the Chinese [ 11 ], Indian population [ 12 - 16 ], South African [ 17 ], Turkish [ 18 , 19 ], Egyptian [ 20 ], Spanish [ 21 ], Japanese [ 22 ] and mixed population (mainly British) [ 10 ]. For the Thai population, Monum et al [ 23 ] developed a model for age estimation in the Thai male population using radiological analysis of chest plate ossification.…”

“…The sternum has been considered a potential application in forensic age estimation in young adult and adult skeletons. Most of the authors studied direct observation of the fusion of manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions in different population groups [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. All of these studies found that the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions fused at different times.…”

Cartilage Tissue in Forensic Science—State of the Art and Future Research Directions

“…Other parameters, in parallel with the degree of calcification, are being evaluated. Oktay et al [13] showed that the degree of manubriosternal joint degeneration and calcification in the second costal cartilage significantly increase with age, but its range is wide. As the authors themselves emphasized, their results might be used to support traditionally accepted age-estimation methods but not as independent indicators of specific age ranges [13].…”

“…Oktay et al [13] showed that the degree of manubriosternal joint degeneration and calcification in the second costal cartilage significantly increase with age, but its range is wide. As the authors themselves emphasized, their results might be used to support traditionally accepted age-estimation methods but not as independent indicators of specific age ranges [13]. Multislice-computed tomography (MSCT) of the sternal end of the first right rib provides some interesting information about osseous and calcic projections (OCP) occurrence in patients aged 15-30.…”