Age estimation of immature human skeletal remains from the diaphyseal length of the long bones in the postnatal period

Cardoso, Hugo F.V.; Abrantes, Joana; Humphrey, Louise

doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0925-5

Cited by 57 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Though studies vary in design, measurement tools and objects, the evaluation of published intra-and inter-observer TEM and %TEM values demonstrate the values acquired in the current study were comparable to previous reports [26,36,37,[45][46][47]. The small percent differences and the acceptable levels of repeatability of measurements, not only between dry bone and CT images but within CT images, suggests the measurement error in the data sources is more a consequence of measurement repeatability and less because of artifacts associated with CT generated images.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from computed tomography 3D volume rendered images

Stull

Tise

Ali

et al. 2014

Forensic Science International

147

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Forensic pathologists commonly use computed tomography (CT) images to assist in determining the cause and manner of death as well as for mass disaster operations.Even though the design of the CT machine does not inherently produce distortion, most techniques within anthropology rely on metric variables, thus concern exists regarding the accuracy of CT images reflecting an object's true dimensions. Numerous researchers have attempted to validate the use of CT images, however the comparisons have only been conducted on limited elements and/or comparisons were between measurements taken from a dry element and measurements taken from the 3D-CT image of the same dry element.A full-body CT scan was performed prior to autopsy at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland. Following autopsy, the remains were processed to remove all soft tissues and the skeletal elements were subject to an additional CT scan. Percent differences and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the accuracy between osteometric variables obtained from the dry skeletal elements and from CT images with and without soft tissues. An additional seven crania were scanned, measured by three observers, and the reliability was evaluated by technical error of measurement (TEM) and relative technical error of measurement (%TEM).Average percent differences between the measurements obtained from the three data sources ranged from 1.4% to 2.9%. Bland-Altman plots illustrated the two sets of measurements were generally within 2mm for each comparison between data sources. Intra-observer TEM and %TEM for three observers and all craniometric variables ranged between 0.46 mm and 0.77 mm and 0.56% and 1.06%, respectively. The three-way interobserver TEM and %TEM for craniometric variables was 2.6 mm and 2.26%, respectively. Variables that yielded high error rates were orbital height, orbital breadth, inter-orbital breadth and parietal chord. Overall, minimal differences were found among the data sources and high accuracy was noted between the observers, which prove CT images are an acceptable source to collect osteometric variables.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from computed tomography 3D volume rendered images

Stull

Tise

Ali

et al. 2014

Forensic Science International

147

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Comparisons of measurement error obtained from subadult skeletal data are limited; consequently, the only available comparative studies use the diaphyseal lengths. Overall, the current study had lower %TEM values than Cardoso et al (2013). An evaluation of published literature demonstrates the intra-and inter-observer TEM and %TEM obtained in the current study are comparable to other studies, even though the specifics for each study vary (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Rissech et al, 2008Rissech et al, , 2013López-Costas et al, 2012;Cardoso et al, 2013) were designed to estimate age from long bone lengths, the authors only provided regression formulae with the standard error (SE) and R-squared values. Providing a SE implies that the variation in diaphyseal dimensions is constant through all ages, even though variation in diaphyseal dimensions is known to increase with age.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using multivariate adaptive regression splines to estimate subadult age from diaphyseal dimensions

Stull

L'Abbé

Ousley

2014

American J Phys Anthropol

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Subadult age estimation is considered the most accurate parameter estimated in a subadult biological profile, even though the methods are deficient and the samples from which they are based are inappropriate. The current study addresses the problems that plague subadult age estimation and creates age estimation models from diaphyseal dimensions of modern children.The sample included 1,310 males and females between the ages of birth and 12 years.Eighteen diaphyseal length and breadth measurements were obtained from Lodox Statscan radiographic images generated at two institutions in Cape Town, South Africa between 2007 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate age estimation models were created using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). K-fold cross-validated 95% prediction intervals (PIs) were created for each model and the precision of each model was assessed.

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“…Regarding the estimation of age through observation or measurement of bones, in immature skeletons, it is most frequently applied to the assessment of the diaphyseal length of the long bones [19]. In this study, we investigated the use of ramus length measurement as an indicator of chronological age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mandibular ramus length as an indicator of chronological age and sex

et al. 2014

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Age and sex estimation is crucial in forensic investigations, whether in legal situations that involve living people or to identify mortal remains. The aim of this study was to establish reference values in a Brazilian population to estimate age and sex by measuring the length of the mandibular ramus on lateral cephalometric radiographs, and to determine the probability that an individual being is 18 years or older, based on the results that were obtained. Two hundred and eighteen scanned lateral cephalograms of individuals between 6 and 20 years of age (101 males and 117 females) were measured with reference to mandibular ramus length (the distance between Condylion superior (Cs) and Gonion (Go)) using ImageJ 1.41 software (NIH, Bethesda, MA, USA). The results showed that sexual dimorphism was not observed until 16 years and, based on the ramus length measurements in this sample, it is possible to predict sex with an accuracy of only 54 %. There was a positive correlation between age and ramus length (r = 0.90; p < 0.001). From the linear regression analysis, one formula was derived; therefore, it was possible to calculate the individual's age, given his or her ramus length. The results showed that if an individual's ramus length is 7.0 cm or more, then there is an 81.25 % chance that the individual is 18 years old or older. In conclusion, the mandibular ramus length was not effective in discriminating sex. Mandibular length is strongly related to chronological age and can be used to predict whether an individual is 18 years or older with high degree of expected accuracy.

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Age estimation of immature human skeletal remains from the diaphyseal length of the long bones in the postnatal period

Cited by 57 publications

References 32 publications

Accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from computed tomography 3D volume rendered images

Accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from computed tomography 3D volume rendered images

Using multivariate adaptive regression splines to estimate subadult age from diaphyseal dimensions

Mandibular ramus length as an indicator of chronological age and sex

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