Determination of Age by Studying Radiological Fusion of Shoulder Joint in Relation to Birth Certificates in 16-20 Years Age Group

Abstract

Age estimation of an individual is of medicolegal importance. Age becomes an important criteria for voting, driving licence, marriage, in civil cases e.g. to get government jobs and pensions. In criminal cases, the judgment is based on the opinion about age given by the forensic experts. Ossification centres appear in a fairly definite sequence at a particular age group and fuses at a particular age group from which an age of the individual can be determined. Materials and methods: 60 subjects were randomly selected from various schools, from neighbourhood as well as the cases attending the OPD of General Medicine Department of Madras Medical College, Chennai – 3. Conclusion :None of the cases in the age group of 16 – 17 yrs among males showed fusion of the secondary ossification centre of the shoulder joint. 30.76% and 28.57% of the cases showed fusion of the secondary ossification centre of the shoulder joint among males in the age group of 17 – 18yrs and 18 – 19 yrs respectively. 30%, 40%, 50% of the cases showed fusion of the secondary ossification centre of the shoulder joint among females in the age group of 16 – 17 yrs, 17 – 18 yrs, 18 – 19 yrs respectively. In the present study, it is observed that the mean age at which the secondary ossification centre of the shoulder joint fuses is 18 – 19 yrs in both boys and girls. In the present study, the fusion of the secondary ossification centre of the shoulder joint occurred one year later among females in comparison to ages mentioned in various standard literatures.It is due to the racial, economic, hereditary and hormonal factors.