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Radiographic age estimation based on degenerative changes of vertebrae.

Bradley J Adams1, Erin Butler1, Stephanie M Fuehr2

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|November 4, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Radiographic imaging of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae offers a new method for age estimation in adults. This technique aids in identifying remains, especially for older individuals, by analyzing degenerative changes.

Keywords:
NYC OCMEbayesbiological profileforensic anthropologyradiographstransition analysisunidentified decedents

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Radiology
  • Biometrics

Background:

  • Accurate age estimation is crucial for decedent identification.
  • Traditional anthropological methods require skeletal element removal and maceration for age assessment.
  • Existing methods can be invasive and time-consuming, particularly for fleshed remains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a novel, non-invasive radiographic method for age estimation.
  • To assess the utility of degenerative changes in thoracic and lumbar vertebrae for age determination.
  • To provide a complementary or stand-alone method for age estimation in medicolegal investigations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized digital radiographs from 240 medical examiner cases (120 males, 120 females, ages 18-101).
  • Employed a 3-phased scoring system for degenerative changes in lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae.
  • Conducted transition analysis on binned average scores and used Bayesian inference for age interval assignment.

Main Results:

  • Established age intervals with 90% credible intervals: Bin 1 (<36 years) and Bin 3 (>47 years).
  • Bin 2 demonstrated significant age variation, limiting its informativeness.
  • No significant age estimation differences were observed between males and females.

Conclusions:

  • Radiographic analysis of vertebral degenerative changes provides a viable method for adult age estimation.
  • This technique is particularly beneficial for estimating the age of older individuals.
  • It may reduce the need for skeletal sampling in medicolegal cases with observable vertebral degeneration.