Radiological indicators for determination of age of consent and criminal responsibility

Objectives: to establish radiological markers, by ossification form of appearances and fusion for determination of Medico legal important ages for consent and criminal responsibility, for our population

Study design: perspective observational study

Setting: Department of Radiology and Imaging, Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro / Hyderabad Sindh

Study period: June 2006 to December 2008

Method: Total 1381 Subjects comprising of 617 female and 764 male, free from any musculoskeletal, nutritional and endocrinal disorder and confirmed dates of births were selected, representing the population of Hyderabad city and adjoining areas. The Subjects were divided into 9 groups on the basis of their age and purpose of study. Radiographs of wrist, elbow, shoulder and hip were taken in accordance to the age group and anticipated findings and radiological changes were observed and recorded

Results: Radiograph of wrist showing ossification of trapezoid at the age of 7 years and pisiform at 12 years in both sexes in 100% of cases proved to be a good indicator of the required age groups. fusion of Epiphysis distal Radius and ulna, proximal Hummers and iliuc crest can be relied upon as age indicator in Females and Males from 16 to 18 years

Conclusion: The outcome of this study provides more accuracy with a margin of error of +/-2 months and can be utilized for our population with confidence in medico legal disputes

Age determination by employing radiological technique in pediatric age groups

Objectives: To establish radiological parameter of chronological age by observing the appearance of ossification centers of bones comprising wrist in different pediatric age groups of our population

Study Design: Prospective descriptive study

Setting: Department of Radiology and Imaging, Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro/ Hyderabad Sindh, from January 2007 to December 2008

Method: Radiological study of wrist bones of 1544 children divided in 13 groups on the basis of 1 year age interval including both females and males representing the heterogeneous population of Hyderabad district of Sindh province was conducted. Reliable age record and freedom from any musculo-skeletal, nutritional and endocrinal disorders were the criteria for the selection of the study subjects

Results: The study reveals that the meantime of ossification of carpal bones and distal ends of ulna and radius is earlier in female subjects compared to their counterpart of same age group and also shows advancement in ossification time in both genders when compared with most of the countries of the world where bony age is scrutinized. By using these standards, bony age of child can be reliably expressed exactly in months

Conclusion: The practice of estimating age in Pakistan remained dependent on the data charts of other countries and/ or more on guess work with a margin of error +/- 1-2 years because of non availability of our own data. Comparing the west, more subjects were included in this study; therefore the outcome provides more accurate age estimation with a margin of +/- 1-2 months, by referring this presented study data. The medical professionals, law enforcers and even the courts and public at large would be benefited from this study