Reliability of McKern and Stewart Method for Estimating Age in Males : An Autopsy Study in a Teaching Hospital in Tirupathi

Abstract

Determination of age after 25 years becomes very difficult as all teeth will be erupted and ossification Centre's fused. Studies have shown that the changes in the morphological surface of pubic symphysis are the most reliable to estimate age between 20 to 40 years. We estimated the age based on the morphology of pubic symphysis and assessed the reliability of Mckern-Stewart criteria by comparing with actual age. METHODS: A total number of 80 male pubic bones from the dead bodies in the age group of 18-65 years were studied. Only bodies with known age, without a history of any disease or deformity of affecting the bones during their life time were included. Age of the deceased was estimated by using pubic symphysis and compared with actual age. RESULTS: The results show that the age can be estimated up to the accuracy of ±2 years up to the age of 30 years, ±6 years above 30 years and is not reliable beyond fourth decade. CONCLUSION: In our study, we observed Mckern-Stewart criteria for estimation of age using pubic symphysis is not reliable beyond 30 years of age. However, caution has to be executed in interpreting our study results as sample size is less.