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JIAFM, 2007 - 29(4); ISSN: 0971-0973
Age Determination in Girls of North – Eastern Region of India
*Dr. William Bilkey Ch. Sangma, **Dr. Fremingston K. Marak, ***Dr. M. Shyamo Singh, ****Dr. Biona
Kharrubon.
*Junior Resident, Deptt. of Radiodiagnosis, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur.
**Junior Resident, Deptt. of Forensic Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur.
***Professor, Deptt. of Anatomy, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur.
****Professor & Ex-Head, Deptt. of Radiodiagnosis, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur.
Abstract
Epiphyseal union of the elbow, knee, wrist joints and pelvis was studied retrospectively on 104 girls between the
age group of 16 -22 yrs to determine the age roentgenographically. Regression formula with the standard errors
was derived for the respective joints. The Y-values predicted by the Regression equation may not be valid if they
are out side the range of the Y-values used to determine the equation. The present study establishes a reference
population for age determination of girls from epiphyseal union in North – Eastern region of India.
Key words: Roentgenographic, age determination, epiphyseal union, regression formula.
Introduction:
Determination of the age of an individual from the
appearance and the fusion of the ossification
centres is a well accepted fact in the field of medical
and legal professions. According to Aggarwal MI &
Pathak IC (1957)1, epiphyses of bones unite during
age periods which are remarkably constant for a
particular epiphysis. This is possible due to complex
but dependable system by which the osseous
framework of the body develops, grows and
matures. Epiphysis of the bones unite at a particular
age and this is helpful in age determination.
Determination of age is helpful in both civil and
criminal cases. In the living age determination is the
most important issue to the court and to the common
citizens as well. It is essential to establish the
identity of the person at the time of admission to
schools, colleges, institutes, or while competing in
sports tournaments at regional, state or national
levels. It is also important while taking consent or in
cases relating to juvenile offenders, rape,
kidnapping, employment in Govt. establishments,
competency as a witness, attainment of majority,
marriage, fixation of criminal responsibility, etc.
Extensive work on the determination of age of
epiphyseal union has been carried out in different
states of India as well as abroad, and from the
findings of various workers, it is evident that there is
not only difference in the age of epiphyseal union in
India and abroad, but also in the different states of
India. These differences may be on account of
varying genetic and epigenetic factors like climatic,
economic and dietetic conditions. The present study
was undertaken retrospectively for determination of
age in girls of indigenous population of the different
North-Eastern region of India from epiphyseal union
around the elbow, wrist, knee joints and pelvis,
roentgenographically.
Materials & Methods:
The retrospective study was undertaken on 104 girls
between the age group of 16-22 years. Only normal
healthy individuals whose exact date of birth was
known were included in the study. Only the cases
belonging to native population of North-Eastern
region of India were included in the study. The cases
were collected for schools, colleges, and institutions
by obtaining the permission from their respective
head of the institution. X-ray of the elbow, wrist,
knee joints and pelvis were taken at the Department
of Radiodiagnosis, Regional Institute of Medical
Sciences, Imphal, Manipur. In the present study, the
cases were taken from the groups of girls belonging
to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
From the state of Tripura, only the cases belonging
to the tribal community were included in the study.
The following epiphyses were examined: 1) At the
elbow joint: Medial epicondyle, conjoint epiphysis,
and upper ends of radius and ulna, 2) At the knee
joint: The lower end of femur and the upper ends of
tibia and fibula, 3) At the wrist joint: The lower ends
of radius and ulna, 4) At the pelvis: The iliac crest
and the ischial tuberosity. A complete history of the
past and present illnesses was taken and general
physical examination was done meticulously to
assess any disease or deformity which may affect
the epiphyseal union. Dietary and economical
parameters were also noted. The qualified
candidates were subjected to x-ray of the bones
around the joints mentioned above in anteriorposterior
(AP) view. The different phases of fusion
were graded arbitrarily into five stages – (i) Non-
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