Assessment of chronological age based on radiological closure of cranial sutures in  Jodhpur region of Rajasthan

Narendra Kumar Vaishnawa; Jagdish  Jugtawa; Anil Bishnoi; P  C  Vyas

Authors

Narendra Kumar Vaishnawa Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Jagdish Jugtawa Department of Forensic Medicine, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Anil Bishnoi Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
P C Vyas Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Keywords:

Chronological age, Suture obliteration, Closure, Skiagram, Informed consent

Abstract

Age estimation from radiological study of bones is often required in medicolegal practice. Correct age is essential in legal medicine, medical, social and administrative matters to validate documents. In this study 100 individuals (53 males & 37 females) of 20 to 70 years age group attending M.G. and MDM Hospitals were selected and Skiagram of skull advised after consenting. We studied and compared upper, mid and lower components of sagittal, upper and lower half coronal, and lambdoid sutures in males and females, and observed that suture closure starts earlier in lower 1/3rd part of sagittal suture among both males and females, however the suture fusion is earlier in males than in females. Furthermore, suture closure starts with in 31 years in males and 33 years in female, for each suture. Closure is earlier in males as compared to females. Overall, coronal suture was found to close early followed by sagittal and lambdoid suture respectively.