Identification of skeletal age using the ossification staging of medial clavicle epiphysis

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1015

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Forensic bone age identification for adolescents has been a hot topic in criminal proceedings. Determination of the bone ossification of the hand and the mineralization of the third molar are common methods for the identification of skeletal age in China, which will have a situation of overassessment, and will affect the justice of the judiciary. Therefore, the identification of skeletal age using the ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphysis has become an alternative method.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of the ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphysis in forensic bone age determination by CT, and to find a criterion to determine whether an individual is adult or not.

METHODS: Chest CT data of 300 patients with an age of 10-30 years were retrospectively evaluated for ossification stage of the bilateral medial clavicular epiphysis (600 clavicles), and were compared with the sex and chronologic age of the individuals. The ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphyses was classified from stages I to V using a modified staging system.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Epiphyseal ossification center appeared from 11 to 21 years old. Partial fusion occurred between 16 and 23 years of age. Complete fusion was first achieved at the age of 18 years for males and 19 years for females. (2) The probability of an individual being > 18 years old was 70.8% in stage III and 100% in stages IIIB, IV, and V in females and males. (3) CT evaluation of the medial clavicular epiphysis is helpful in forensic age determination and stage IIIB can be used as a criterion to make the prediction that an individual is older than 18 years.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程

Key words: Clavicle, Epiphyses, Age Determination by Skeleton, Minors, Adult, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number:

R445

Zha Luqin, Cui Erfeng. Identification of skeletal age using the ossification staging of medial clavicle epiphysis[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2018, 22(35): 5674-5680.

Figures/Tables 5

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