Forensic Age Estimation on Digital X‐ray Images: Medial Epiphyses of the Clavicle and First Rib Ossification in Relation to Chronological Age*^,†

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in forensic sciences about forensic age estimation in living subjects by means of radiological methods. This research was conducted on digital thorax X-rays to test the usefulness of some radiological changes in the clavicle and first rib. The sample consisted in a total of 123 subjects of Spanish origin (61 men and 62 women; age range: 5-75 years). From all subjects, a thorax posterior-anterior radiograph was obtained in digital format. Scoring for fusion of medial epiphyses of the clavicle was carried out by Schmeling's system and ossification of the costal cartilage of the first rib by Michelson's system. Degree of ossification and epiphyseal fusion were analyzed in relation with known age and sex of these subjects. The results give a minimum age of >20 years for full fusion of the medial epiphysis of the clavicle (Stages 4 and 5). Concerning the first rib, all subjects with the final Stage 3 of ossification were above 25 years of age. These results suggest that the first rib ossification might become an additional method to the ones so far recommended for forensic age estimation in subjects around 21. New research would be desirable to confirm this suggestion.

Validation of third molar maturity index (I 3M ) for discrimination of juvenile/adult status in South Indian population

“…A wide variety of methods based on the skeletal maturity [40][41][42][43][44] and dental development 31,45,46 have been published for age estimation. All these methods have proven to be accurate when applied to the individuals from the population from which those standards are derived 47 .…”

Age Determination in Turkish People Based on the Calcification Degree of the First Costal Cartilage

“…In this process, respiratory stress seems to be the main cause of ossification of the first rib, whereas it is chest expansion in the lower ribs. 13 In our study, mean ages for calcification were 5 Garamendi et al reported stage 0 calcification predominantly in subjects between 5 and 19 years of age and stage 3 and 3 calcification in 24 years old subjects. 12,13 In our study, stage 0 calcification was present in subjects between 1 and 14 years of age and we had results similar to those of Garamendi et al for stage 2 and 3 subjects.…”

“…While the median value for stage 0 was 5.00 years in our study, it was 17.64 years in their study. 12,13 Our study group included a higher number of pediatric subjects compared to their study and there was a difference in mean ages of stage 0 groups of the two studies due to median values. Overall Spearman's rho value was 0.904 for the study group.…”

“…In our study, median value for stage 3 calcification was 67.00 years, but in the other study, it was 57.28 years. 12 Therefore, there was a significant difference between the two studies with regard to median values. In our study, overall mean and median age values were 42.39 and 41.00 years, respectively, whereas same values were 44.64 and 45.43 years in the other study.…”

“…The calcification stages of the right first costal cartilages were examined on postero-anterior chest x-rays based on the stages of calcification used in the study of Barchilon et al and Garamendi et al [11][12][13] Two radiologists reviewed the x-rays concurrently to avoid inter-observer variability. Consistent with previous studies, the left side could not be evaluated.…”