The Use of Entheseal Changes in the Femur and Os Coxa for Age Assessment

This study examined the relationship between age and entheseal modifications in the femur and os coxa for estimating age at death. Five areas on the os coxa and four on the femur were scored in 200 white individuals over 40 years of age. Statistical analyses assessed the relationship between age and entheseal modification using both raw scores and scores adjusted for body size, for each sex, and for sexes combined. Results indicate that significant relationships exist between age and entheseal modification at three sites on the femur and four on the os coxae, but the relationships are not strong enough to generate age predictions. Conversely, the most severe entheseal modifications show promise as an indicator of age in older adults. Although further research is needed using larger samples for robust statistical analyses, current data indicate these modifications can suggest an age >60, or in some cases 70, years.