title: Evaluation of the Suchey-Brooks method for aging skeletons in the Balkans.
abstract: This study has been carried out to examine whether the Suchey-Brooks (S&B) methods could be successfully applied in age assessment of populations from the Balkans. The known-age sample consists of 33 females and 52 males pairs of pubic bones collected from the autopsy cases. Age estimation by S&B method showed an accuracy of 89.74% in males and 72.0% in females. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between the actual age of the investigated individuals and age phases obtained by the S&B method, although the mean values of the sixth age category differed significantly compared with the original model. The most reliable indicators in both sexes were the relief of the symphyseal surface, lipping, symphyseal rim, and dorsal margin. The discriminating power of these indicators was the least reliable in distinguishing S&B phases 2 and 3. Based on these results, the appropriate recommendations for aging Serbian populations are made. There was a good agreement between two observers (kappa=0.726).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Anthropology, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 4/2 Dr Subotica, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. marijads@eunet.yu
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djurić
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Djonić
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: Djordje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*