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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Correlation of spheno-occipital synchondrosis and mandibular condylar cortication with chronological age using
Sridhar Murali1, Anjana Bagewadi2, Santosh Patil3
1Department of Oral Medicine, Radiology and Special Care Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals (Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Background:
Forensic age estimation is a procedure which utilises many methods to estimate the age of both living and deceased individuals, including those who have died in natural disasters or man-made catastrophes. The pattern and closure of spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) fusion, along with subchondral ossification of the mandibular condyle, can be used to estimate age.
Aim And Objectives:
This study aims to estimate age using computed tomographic (CT) images of spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion (SOS) and mandibular condylar cortication (MCC), and to correlate these findings with chronological age.
Materials And Methods:
The present study included 435 CT images of individuals aged 10-25 years. SOS fusion was assessed using a four-stage system, and MCC was assessed bilaterally using a three-stage system on the sagittal plane. Data on fusion stages and cortication types were entered along with chronological age, and then statistically analysed.
Results:
SOS fusion stage 2 occurred at similar age in males (19.82 ± 2.67 years) and females (19.23 ± 2.93 years). Earlier fusion of other stages was observed in females by a mean age of 2 years. MCC was completed 1 year earlier in females, with statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.001). When comparing cortication types and different fusion stages, only type II cortication showed statistically significant differences compared to different fusion stages (p ≤ 0.001).
Conclusion:
Mandibular condylar cortication (MCC) and spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) fusion were positively correlated with chronological age, suggesting that these parameters can be used as an adjunct method for age estimation.
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