1Department of Forensic Medicine&Toxicology, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Bihta, Patna, Bihar
2Govt. of Assam
3Department of Forensic Medicine, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana
4Department of Radiodiagnosis, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana
5Department of Forensic Medicine&Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS), Patna, Bihar
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Avinash Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine&Toxicology, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Bihta, Patna, Bihar Contact: +91 9570073048, Email: staravinash008@gmail.com
Introduction: The lesser cornua of the hyoid bone fuse with the body at a certain age. The fusion of hyoid bone can be helpful in estimating the age of persons particularly, unknown dead bodies and skeletons when other skeletal remains are missing. Very few investigations have been done for time of fusion of lesser cornu with body of hyoid bone.
Materials and Methods: The present study was aimed at examining the age of fusion of lesser cornu of hyoid bone in population of Haryana and to assess whether fusion is sex dependent. The sample comprised hundred (equal number of male and female) healthy hyoids bones. The hyoid bones were obtained from subjects, aged between 20-70 year, in consecutive autopsies. The X-ray films were examined for the presence of fusion between the lesser cornua and body.
Results: The mean age of unilateral fusion of lesser cornua in females and males were 58.00 and 59.00 years respectively while mean age of bilateral fusion were 63.67 and 64.23 years in females and males respectively.
Conclussion: It was seen from the present study that the mean age of fusion did not significantly differ in the two sexes. Attempt to estimate age from hyoid fusion in Indians would be unreliable owing to the regional variations.
Hyoid bone, Cornua, Age Estimation, Fusion, Unilateral, Bilateral
