JAFM-33-2, April-June, 2011 [PDF] - forensic medicine

J Indian Acad Forensic Med. April-June 2011, Vol. 33, No. 2 ISSN 0971-0973(India) in the year 1958 has shown findingssimilar to the present study that the distalepiphysis of ulna shows early union ascompared to distal end of radius.Tables 3 to 6 are comparison tables.Here the table 3 shows the bilateral comparisonfor the epiphyseal fusion at lower end radius andthe same is in table no. 4 for ulna. It can bepointed out from these two tables that thefindings are exactly similar for the right and lefthand in each and every age group under thestudy. The interpretation is that the process andprogress of epiphyseal fusion at lower end ofradius and ulna is bilaterally symmetrical. Wehave not found any literature regarding bilateralsymmetry or asymmetry of epiphyseal fusion atlower end of radius and ulna. This conclusionwill of great help to the researchers in the future.Table no. 5 and 6 shows the effect ofgender on epiphyseal fusion at lower end ofradius and ulna respectively. All the findings arein double figures as already concluded fromtable no. 3 & 4 that the epiphyseal fusion atlower end of radius and ulna is bilaterallysymmetrical.After taking the consideration fromtable no. 1 and on fine analysis of table no. 5 &6, we see that the subjects are notproportionately distributed in all the age groupsof either sex showing different degrees ofepiphyseal fusion. In both of the tables in all theage groups as the stage of epiphyseal fusionadvances, the numbers of x-rays areproportionally increasing for females ascompared to males. Thus, on an averagefemales show earlier epiphyseal fusion at lowerend of radius and ulna as compared to male witha difference of less than one year.Many of the authors like Pryor J W (USA– 1905, 1906, 1923, 1928), Greulich W W et al(USA – 1950), Loomba S D (U P, India – 1958)have also stressed that the bones of femalesossify in advance of male. Loomba hasdescribed in his studies that in the majority, ageof union in boys was 20-21 years and for girls itwas 18-19 years.Observations from his study of Kothari DR (Rajasthan, 1972) shows that the average agein boys for epiphyseal fusion to occur in distalend of radius is 18-19 years and that for girls is17-18 years, no difference in terms of age isseen for union of distal end of ulna.Conclusion:Epiphyseal fusion of lower end ofradius:• The processes of union starts (grade +) in33.3% individuals in the age group of 16-17years in males. Rest of the 66.6% does notshow even starting up of process of fusion(grade 0).• The processes of union (grade +) starts in27.2% individuals in the age group of 16-17years in females, while 27.2% individualsshows grade ++ fusion. Remaining 45.4%shows grade 0 fusion.• From above results it can be concluded thatstarting of epiphyseal fusion in lower end ofradius of both hand in male is 16-17 yearsand for female is also 16-17 years. Femalesshow early age of fusion as compared tomale but this difference is less than oneyear.• In 19-20 years age group 93.3% malesshows complete fusion (grade +++ )of lowerend of radius in males.• In 18-19 years age group 75% femalesshows complete fusion(grade +++) while100% females in age group19-20 yearsshows complete fusion (grade +++ ) of lowerend of radius.From above results it can be concluded thatcompletion of epiphyseal fusion in lower end ofradius of both hand in male is 19-20 years andfor female is also 19-20 years. Females showearly age of fusion as compared to male but thisdifference is less than one year.Epiphyseal Fusion at lower end ofulna:• The processes of union (grade +) starts in50% individuals in the age group of 16-17years in males. Rest of the 50% does notshow even starting up of process of fusion(grade 0).• The processes of union (grade +)starts in45.4% individuals in the age group of 16-17years in females, while 36.3% individualsshows grade ++ fusion. Remaining 18.2%shows grade 0 fusion.From above results it can be concluded thatstarting up of epiphyseal fusion in lower end ofulna of both hand in male is 16-17 years and forfemale is also 16-17 years. Females show earlyage of fusion as compared to male but thisdifference is less than one year.• In 19-20 years age group 100% malesshows complete fusion of lower end of ulnain males.• In 18-19 years age group 100% femalesshows complete fusion and 100% females inage group 19-20 shows complete fusion oflower end of radius.From above results it can be concludedthat completion of epiphyseal fusion in lower endof ulna of both hand in male is 19-20 years andfor female is 18-19 years. Females show early128