AGE DETERMINATION FROM EPIPHYSEAL UNION AT KNEE JOINT
Keywords:
Epiphyseal union, Knee joint, Age determinationAbstract
Medico-legal importance of age-estimation in various civil and criminal cases is well documented. Physical, dental and radiological changes are useful parameters for estimation of age. After the age of 16 years, epiphyseal union on radiological examination is of vital importance.1 During January to March 2011, 204 persons of known age (200 subjects and 4 control samples), original native of Ahmedabad region were selected for the study from the patients and their relatives at KesarSAL Hospital, Ahmedabad. The subjects were equally distributed as of either sex and in the 5 age-groups of one year each between the 13-18 years. After taking written informed consent, x ray of both the knees was taken in AP view. It was found that the epiphyseal fusion at lower end of femur and upper end of tibia is bilaterally symmetrical. It processes and progresses simultaneously together. It males it started at the age of 15-16 years and is completed by the age of 16.5-17.5 years. In comparison, females were ahead of males by 1-1.5 years.
References
1. Banerjee K K and Aggarwal B B L. Estimation of age from epiphyseal union at the wrist and ankle joints in the capital city of India, Forensic Sci Int; 31-39, 1998.
2. Chhokar V, Aggarwal S N and Bhardwaj D N. Estimation of age of 16 years in females by radiological and dental examination, JFMT; IX: 1&2 Jan-Jun, 25- 30, 1992.
3. Galstaun G. A study of ossification as observed in Indian subjects, Indian J Med Res; 25; 1, July, 1937. 4. Aggarwal M I and Pathak I C. Roentgenologic study of epiphyseal union in Punjabi girls for determination of age, Indian J Med Res; 45: 283-289, 1957. 5. Sankhyan S, Sekhon H and Rao CM. Age of ossification of some hip bone centres in Himachal Pradesh, JFMT; X: 344, Jun-Dec, 3-5, 1993.
6. Gray’anatomy. Churchill Livingstone, London.38th Edition; 2000: 684, 697.
7. Saksena J S and Vyas S K. Epiphyseal union at the wrist, knee and iliac crest in the residents of Madhya Pradesh, J Indian Med Assoc ; 53: 2, July, 16, 1969.
8. Kangne R N, Somi S A and Despande V L. Age estimation of adolescent girls by radiography, JFMT; 16: 1, Jan Jun, 20-26, 1999.
9. Chandramauli R. Textbook of Physiology. 2nd Edition. Jaypee brothers. New Delhi. 2003: 353.
10. Bijlani R L. Understanding of Medical Physiology. 3rd Edition. Jaypee brothers. New Delhi. 2004: 580. 11. Davies D A, Parsons F G. Age order of the appearance and union of the normal epiphysis as seen by x-ray. J Anat. 1927; 62:58-71.
12. Hepworth S N. On the determination of age in Indians from a study of ossification of the epiphysis of long bones. Ind Med Gaz. 1929; 64: 128.
13. Flecker H. Roentgenographic observations of the time of appearance of epiphysis. J Anat. 1932; 67:164-188. 14. Pillai M J S. The study of epiphyseal union for determination of age of South Indians. Indian J Med Res. 1936; 23: 1015-1017.
15. Basu S K and Basu S. Age order of epiphyseal union in Bengali girls in preliminary study. J Indian Med Assoc. 1938; 7: 571–578.
16. Bokhariya P, Chowdhary D S, Kothari R. Estimation of age of individual by radiographic examinations of bones at knee joint in Western Rajasthan population. JFMT. 2009; 26 (2): 1–3.
