Analytical study of age estimation by the ossification centers around the “elbow joint� in the age group of 12-18 years

Abstract

Most of the people live in rural areas, most of them being illiterates and don’t remember their dates of birth. They do not feel that it is the due to intimate the birth of a child in their house to the authorities connected in maintaining birth and death registers. Due to this, the officials concerned find it difficult to maintain the records. Hence Indian courts have to depend often upon medical opinion for assessment of the age. The cases are referred to doctors for estimation of age. Usually as soon as a child is born, the date and hour of birth is recorded. Birth records from the registrar’s office, school records, and horoscope record are the main sources of obtaining the particulars about the age of a child. But these records are often not reliable in India, as most of the people live in villages and are illiterate, and they do not realize the importance of maintaining the proof of date of birth. The question of estimation of age is of importance both in living as well as in the dead. This study was conducted with materials and methods of school children and college students with age group of 12 to 18 years. For this study anteroposterior and lateral views of radiographs of the elbow of both arms were taken and results were observed.