Age estimation by spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion in South Indian population using computed tomography

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Original Article

Visakh T¹  Nitika C. Panakkal²  Rajesh Nayak³ 

[1] Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India;Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher education, Manipal, Karnataka, India;Department of Radiodiagnosis, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India;

关键词: Spheno-occipital synchondrosis;    Age estimation;    Computed tomography;    South Indian population;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s41935-023-00348-z

 received in 2023-01-26, accepted in 2023-05-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAge estimation has paramount importance for the forensic practitioner. Depending on the timing of fusion, the spheno-occipital synchondrosis will be open during childhood and then later fuse during adulthood. Since there have been a lot of inconsistencies in terms of fusion degree, that can be attributed to variability in population or methodology. The aim of the present study was to determine the age of beginning of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis in the South Indian population using computed tomography.ResultsThe study reported a mean age of 8.38 ± 1.21 for males and 8.2 ± 1.16 for females in the stage 0 (completely open) category. Spheno-occipital synchondrosis began to fuse (stage 1) at the mean age of 11.64 ± 1.19 for males and 10.21 ± 1.19 for females.ConclusionsSpheno-occipital synchondrosis begins to close at the age of less than 15 years in males. Similarly, for females, the spheno-occipital synchondrosis begins to close at the age of less than 14 years. Also, a strong sexual dimorphism is seen as each stage of synchondrosis and starts earlier in females compared to males. In addition, the study also showed the degree of fusion increasing with age. This estimation will not only help in forensic and anthropological studies but also in assessing craniofacial growth in orthodontics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 4