Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Age determination in both living and dead plays animportant role in
medicolegal cases. There are various methods to assess the age by physical
characteristics, odonatological development but the most valuable method seems to be
the osteological changes observed by radiological examination ie., the appearance and
fusion of secondary ossification centerslike medial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle,
capitulum & trochlea. The present study was conducted on 131 subjects out of which
110 were males and 21 were females. The main aim of the study was to find the age of
fusion of secondary ossification centersof medial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle,
capitulum & trochlea and to compare the distribution of fusion of ossification centers
between males and females.
Materials and Methods: Firstly, informed consent was taken. Preliminary details of
each individual were noted that included general examination, physical examination,
dental examination followed by taking X-ray AP view of elbow for radiological
examination. The results were noted based on the degree of fusion as No Union (O),
Beginning union(B), Recent union(R), Complete union(C).
Results: The present study showed among males, the fusion for each ossification centers
ofmedial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle, capitulum & trochlea started by 15-16 years
and was completed by 18-19 years whereas in females it started fusion by 15-16 years
but complete fusion occurred around 16-17 years itself.
Conclusion: Based on the analysis of fusion of ossification centers it shows that the
ossification centers of medial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle, capitulum & trochlea fuses
earlier in females by 1-2 years than in males.