Age Estimation from Ossification of the Medial Clavicular Epiphysis by Computed Tomography Estimación de la Edad de Osificación de la Epífisis Medial Clavicular por Tomografía Computadorizada

EL MORSI, D. A.; EL-ATTA, H. M. A.; ELMAADAWY, M.; TAWFIK, A. M. & BATOUTY, N. H. Age estimation from ossificationof the medial clavicular epiphysis by computed tomography. Int. J. Morphol., 33(4):1419-1426, 2015.SUMMARY: The current study intended to evaluate the accuracy of age estimation from the development of the medial clavicularepiphysis (sternal end of the clavicle) in Egyptian population using computed tomography (CT) and to develop a discriminant formulathat can be used in Egyptians. The study was conducted on 142 subjects (84 males and 58 females) after taken informed consent. Theywere subjected to multi-slice CT on the medial end of clavicles of both sides. The results revealed that the age of non - union was seen at8–17 years; incomplete union at 15–20 years and complete union was seen at 20 years. It is concluded that the ossification of medialclavicular end could be used for age estimation. Also CT is a good visualization tool to be used. Regression analysis for each and bothclavicles in both sexes is specific to Egyptian population and should be used after validation of the results in other ones. The studyrecommended using stage 1 to be 15 years; Stage 3 to be >15 years; stage 4 of maturation to be >19 ye ars andstage 5 to be >21 years.KEY WORDS: Forensic science; Age estimation; Ossification status; Medial clavicular epiphysis; Sternal end of theclavicle; Identification; Computed tomography.