Determination of age from pubic symphysis: an autopsy study

The present study was conducted on three hundred and thirty-six cases brought for autopsy to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India, during the period 2000-2002. Pubic bones of either sex were analysed according to Todd's method (1920; 1921a,b,c) as modified by McKern and Stewart (1957) to assess and compare the known age of the corpses. Cases belonged to both sexes, i.e. 79.46% males and 20.54% females. All the cases were above the age of 17 years. No difference was noted in the scoring of right and left pubic bones. The age estimation from different components in males and females up to the total score of 10 (23-28 years) was +/- 6, whereas above a score of 10 the estimated age was +/- 12 in males and +/- 9 in females. The age range given for scores of 14 and 15, which were 29+ and 36+ respectively, did not account for variability of age after 40 years. Therefore, the age assessment from pubic bones in the fourth decade age group and beyond is not reliable which is in variance to the study by McKern and Stewart (1957).