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Radiological evaluation of the skeletal age represents an important tool for the estimation of the chronological age in the living. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the chronological age and degree of epiphyseal fusion around elbow joint in population of Chhattisgarh (Central India) and to compare our results with the results of similar studies. The study was carried out in 100 healthy subjects (40 girls and 60 boys) aging from 13 to 20 years. The obtained results from the radiographs revealed that the complete fusion of epiphysis of elbow joint is seen at 16-20 years. Females were consistently developing epiphyseal union at a younger age than their male counterparts. Results also suggest that the age of epiphyseal union is found to vary greatly all over the world indicating the need for separate standards of age of epiphyseal union for separate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Margin of errors is substantial at times of age determination in living individuals. • Forensic age estimation in commercial sex workers and child laborers carried out. • Biologic age was assessed from skeletal and dental age. • Differences between reported age and assessed biologic age was observed. • Investigators must proceed on with caution taking range of differences between reported and biological age into account. Age estimation in living individuals has attained importance in forensic sciences from legal proceedings and has been a frequent request from concerned authorities to ascertain whether the person in question has reached the age of imputability and legal responsibility. The purpose of age estimation is not just limited to juvenile or sub-adult delinquents but also required in situations like a violation of child rights such as child employment, commercial sexual exploitation involving minor girls. Indian Law strictly forbids any employment of the children under the age of 14 and sexual exploitation of minor girls (<18 years). In this study, we assessed the skeletal and dental ages and correlate to reported chronological ages in a sample of 85 male child labourers and 31 female commercial sex workers. Statistical analysis of the results was performed to verify the similarities or differences between reported and biological age. The results had revealed a statistically significant difference between the reported age, skeletal, dental, and calculated biologic age (p < 0.05). The results indicate the need to establish a more reliable method for determining the biological age in an age-specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Calce method is proposed as a tool for age estimation from the acetabulum. • The present study tests the applicability of Calce method in an Indian population. • Morphological features defined by Calce can be easily visualized on CT scans. • Calce method yielded lower accuracy in those aged 40 years and above for the study population. • Lack of applicability of Calce method can be attributed to the broad age ranges it uses. Age estimation is one of the prerequisites of human identification. Age-progressive changes in the pelvis offer useful evidence for forensic age estimation across all age groups. The acetabulum presents as a durable and taphonomic degradation resistant age marker, and, can be employed for analysing age-progressive changes described by Calce. The present study aimed at determining the applicability of the Calce method for age estimation in an Indian population based on a computed tomographic examination of the acetabulum. Additionally, different morphological features defined by Calce were evaluated to identify the feature which contributes most towards the process of age estimation. CT images obtained from clinically undertaken examinations of individuals aged 17 years and above were scrutinized according to the features defined within the Calce method. No statistically significant bilateral or sex differences were observed. An overall accuracy of 76.66% was observed on applying the Calce method to an Indian population, with lower accuracy percentages for individuals aged 40 years and above. The associated overall inaccuracy and bias were found to be 9.45 and 8.88 years, respectively. Within the various features, acetabular groove was found to contribute most towards the overall accuracy, and apex growth the least. Considering this weighted proportion, population specific models should be derived to render greater applicability to the method for age estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sternebral fusion can be used for age estimation. • The present study investigates these changes using CT in an Indian population. • The present study reports that sternebral fusion can estimate age of juveniles. • Sternebral fusion can ascertain if a person has attained the ages of 16 & 18 years. Forensic age estimation is a crucial aspect of the human identification process. Sternebral fusion is one of the skeletal indicators of age that has not been thoroughly researched for the purpose of age estimation. The present study was conducted with the aim of assessing the utility of each of the sternebral fusion in age estimation, and to ascertain if these fusion stages can help in identifying whether an individual has attained the medicolegally significant ages of 16 and 18 years. Thoracic CT images of 148 study participants (74 females, 74 males) were analysed to evaluate the fusion of sternebrae 1–2, sternebrae 2–3, and sternebrae 3–4. The fusion scores for these were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001) with sternebrae 1–2 fusion showing the highest coefficient of correlation at R = 0.900. Linear regression models were generated using each of the sternebral fusions separately and together for estimation of age. The standard error of estimate for the regression models ranged from 1.51 to 2.86 years. Box and Whisker plots were constructed to see the fusion score wise age distribution of the study population, and it was observed that sternebral fusion has the ability to indicate whether an individual has attained the age of 16 and 18 years. Our study concludes that sternebral fusion can act as an accurate method of forensic age estimation of juveniles and young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]