Estimation of Age in Pediatric Age Group by Wrist Ossification Centers

The estimation of age in pediatric age group is frequently required in child labour, under 12 sports events and many other circumstances.

our aim is to obtain a statistical profile of ossification of different centers at wrist joint so we can use in estimation of age as standard in the Ajmer region simultaneously we can correlate with other studies.

This is a prospective Study, carried out in the department of forensic medicine at J.L.N. Medical College, Ajmer on 300 healthy subjects of pediatric group i.e. Up to 12 years of age of both sexes.

In the present series appearance of Capitate slightly earlier than Hamate In the present series, the 3rd carpal Triquetral showed its appearance at the age of 3 to 5 years. Lunate was the 4th carpal to ossify at 4 to 6 years of age in the study. For first four carpals as mentioned above there was no wide sex variation in their ossification whereas, remaining four carpals i.e. Trapezium, trapezoid, Scaphoid and Pisiform showed slight variation (1–2 years) in their ossification in two sexes. Trapezium, trapezoid and Scaphoid ossified between the ages of 5 to 9 year's in both the sexes in the present study. Appearance of last carpal i.e. Pisiform has been reported at the age of 9 to 12 and 10 to 12 years in the males and females respectively. In the present series, center for lower end of radius ossified (M 1–2 years; F 2–3 years) earlier than ulna (M a n d F 5–8 y e a r s).

Capitate, Hamitate, Triuetral, Lunate, there was no wide sex variation in their ossification whereas, remaining four carpals i.e. Trapezium, trapezoid, Scaphoid and Pisiform showed slight variation (1–2 years) in their ossification in two sexes. Ossification at the distal End of radius and ulna are also helpful in assessment of age along with carpal bones in children below 12 years of age. Variations in the appearance of center of ossification at wrist joint shows influence of race, climate, diet and regional factors.