Details
Category: Volume 07 Issue 05 May 2019
Hits: 1113

Title: Gross and Radiological Study of Fusion of the Sternebrae of Mesosternum for Determination of Age in Native Population of Haryana

Authors: Dr Avinash Kumar, Dr Luv Sharma, Dr Jyotsna Sen, Dr Binay Kumar

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i5.59

Abstract

Now a day, determination of age and sex of skeleton remains or of advanced decomposed body is an important task for the Forensic Expert to help in the investigation of concern case. It may arise in case of homicide, fire, explosion or mass disasters such as flood, earthquake, railway or aircraft accidents, etc. for determination of identity. In developing countries like India, because of illiteracy, ignorance regarding the age proof is much more. importance of official records like birth and death, vast majority of population fail to give information of such vital events to the appropriate authorities entitled with these jobs. This causes paucity in such information when needed in a medico legal case. Sternum as a single bone can be used for age determination in young adult, middle age and old persons.

The present study has been conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Radiology, Pt. B. D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, with an attempt to study the mesosternum of sternum in the purview of existing parameters of the determination of age. It includes a study of fusion of sternebrae with each other in relation to age. A total of 200 Sternums of known age and sex (100 males and 100 females) of aged group 10-35 years, were collected from identified dead bodies that were brought to the Department of Forensic Medicine for post-mortem examination. The study was conducted by gross and radiological methods and finding were correlated by statistical methods. The study showed that the fusion of sternebrae of mesosternum occurs between 15-25 years, from below upward.

Keywords: Sternum, Mesosternum, Sternebrae, Gross and Radiological findings, Fusion.

References

  1. Rao Nagesh Kumar G. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 1st ed, New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd; 2000. p. 89
  2. Banerjee KK, Agarwal BB. Estimation of age from epiphyseal union at the wrist and ankle joints in the capital city of India. J Forensic Sci Int.1998;98(1):31-9
  3. Ashley GT. The human sternum — The influence of sex and age on its measurements. J Forensic Med. 1956;3: 27-43.
  4. Krogman WM, Iscan MY.The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine, 2nd ed, USA: Chales C. Thomas Publishers; 1986. p. 134-44
  5. Agrawal A. Age Estimation in the living: in matters civil and criminal. J Anat. 2009; 1(2):1-25.
  6. Sangma WB, Marak FK, Singh MS, Kharrubon B. A Roentgenographic study for age determination in boys of North-Eastern Region of India. J Ind Acad Forensic Med. 2006;28(2):55-9.
  7. Bhise SS, Chikhalkar BG, Nanandkar SD, Chavan GS. Age determination from Radiological study of Epiphysial appearance and union around wrist joint and hand. J Ind Acad Forensic Med. 2011;33(4):292-3.]
  8. Gargi J, Rai G, Chanana A, Tayal I. Medico-legal Importance of sternum in age estimation-An autopsy study. J Punjab Acad Forensic Med Toxicol. 2013;13(2):80-5.
  9. Kaneriya D, Umervanshi B, Patil D, Mehta C, Chauhan K. and Vora R. Age determination from fusion of the sternal elements. Int J of basic app Med sci. 2013; 3(2):22-9.
  10. Tailor C, Silajiya D, Govekar G, Chaudhari V, Rajdev B, Gajera C. Age determination by gross and radiological aspect of sternum. J Ind. Acad Forensic Med. 2013;35(1):21-5.
  11. Manoharan C, Dhanalakshmi V, Thangam D, Edwin Joe A. Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine, April-June 2016;3(2):128-132.
  12. Baker BJ, Dupras TL, and Tocheri MW. The Osteology of Infants and Children. College Station: Texas A&M University Press; 2005. p. 192.
  13. Bayarogullan H, Yengil E, Davran R, Aglagul E, Karazincin S, Balci A. Evalution of the Postnatal Development of Sternum and starnal variation using multidetector CT. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2014; 20(1): 82-89.
  14. Douglas J, Kerr A. Forensic Medicine, 6th London: Adam and Charles Black; 1954. p. 50.
  15. Ashley GT, editor. Frezer’s Anatomy of Human skeleton, 2nd London: Butterworth; 1956. p. 56-9.
  16. Girdany and Golden. A radiographic database for estimating biological parameters in modern subadults. American Journal of Roentgenology, 1952;68 (3):63-5.
  17. Guharaj PV. Forensic Medicine, 1st New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 1982. p. 27 & 33.
  18. Mathiharan K, Patnaik AK, editors. Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology. 23rd New Delhi: Lexis Nexis Butterworth; 2003. p. 286.
  19. Parikh CK. Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 5th Mumbai: Bombay Medical Publisher; 1990. p. 41.
  20. Krishnan MKR. Hand book of Forensic Medicine, 3rd Mumbai: Kothari book depot; 1971. p. 33.
  21. Vij K. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 6th New Delhi: Reed Elsevier India (P) Limited. 2014. p. 42.

Corresponding Author

Dr Avinash Kumar

Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, A.I.I.M.S, Patna, Bihar, India