The effects of the differences of skeletal development on age estimation in children and adolescent between large and middling cities in China

Objective The effects of differences of skeletal development on forensic age estimation were investigated in children and adolescent from five cities of China. Methods The sample was 11635(5971 boys, 5664 girls)normal urban Han children aged 3~18 years from cities of China in 2005 years. The radiographs of hand and wrist of all subjects were estimated by RUS-CHN method. The differences of skeletal age were compared between cities of China. Results The skeletal development was retarded by 0.14~0.19 (P0.05) years before 8 years in Guangzhou boys, and by 0.13~0.17 (P0.05) years in 9~12 years in Wenzhou boys. The skeletal development was advanced by 0.14~0.32 years in Shanghai boys at 7~15 years. The skeletal development was delayed by 0.15~0.31 (P0.05) years under 12 years in Dalian girls, and by 0.18~0.31 years under 8 years in Shijiazhuang girls. The skeletal development was retarded by 0.11~0.22 (P0.05) years in Guangzhou girls at 5~8 years. The skeletal age was advanced by 0.12~0.13(P0.05)years at 8~9 years in Shanghai girls. Conclusions There were some diversity in differences of skeletal development for children and adolescents form five cities of China at different ages.