Estimation of Age from Cranial Suture Fusion- an Autopsy based Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jiafm.2024.46.1(Suppl).2Keywords:
Acsadi-nemeskeri scale, Age estimation, Cranil sutures, Ectocranial fusion, Endocranial fusion, Forensic anthropologyAbstract
The need for identification of a deceased arises in civil and criminal cases. Skull being a whole compact bone is almost always the best preserved and the one that could be best utilised. Over the years, there has been enough and more controversies regarding the methodology and predictability of the same. The primary objective of the study was to estimate age from fusion of cranial sutures in wet specimens of cranial vault during autopsies. Cross sectional study was done at Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram for a period of one year after approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. The study sample of 168 was divided uniformly among each decade from 11-80 years, thus coming to 12 males and females in each. Fusion of cranial sutures were scored both endocranially and ectocranially using the Acsadi- Nemeskeri scale. Reliability of various subdivisions of each cranial suture were assessed. Regression formulas from various cumulative scores were then formulated. There was no significant variation in fusion of cranial sutures between males and females. Every subdivision of each cranial suture showed variation with age and cannot be used as a good predictor of age. The cumulative scores of endocranial subdivisions, ectocranial subdivisions, subdivisions around Bregma and Lambda showed uniform distribution and reliability of prediction. Greatest predictability was from the sum of endocranial scores. The methodology in determining age from cranial suture fusion is of utmost significance in establishing identity. An objective scoring technique is more dependable than a subjective analysis.
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