1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital, Parel, Mumbai - 400012, Maharashtra
2Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College & Hospital, Jalgaon (Kh), Jalgaon, Maharashtra-425309
Online published on 17 November, 2012.
The estimation of foetal age plays an important role in the medicolegal investigation of such offences as criminal abortion and foeticide. The present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur from November 2007 to October 2009 on a total number of 100 foetuses.
Complete body radiographs with the foetus lying in supine position and extremities extended were taken in all cases. The same foetus was dissected for inspection of ossification centres.
In the study, the mean gestational age of appearance of ossification centres for calcaneum was 24 weeks, talus - 26 weeks, cuboid - 38 weeks, lower end of Femur - 34 weeks, upper end of Tibia - 34 weeks.
Our study showed that the gestational age of a foetus can be estimated with a reasonable degree of accuracy from the appearance of various centres of ossification.
Foetus, Age Determination, Centres of Ossification, Radiological Examination, Autopsy
