title: [Analysis for skeletal age less than "age" in judicial expertise in 303 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the phenomenon and the possible causes for the skeletal age less than the "real age" in the judicial expertise.
  
  
  METHODS
  With referring to the skeletal age verification value provided by the inspection sample pertaining to CHN scoring method, combining with the relevant materials such as "age" and "residence" information provided by the police authority while performing expertise, as well as tracking down and re-visiting some cases, we retrospectively analyzed 829 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 303 cases for the skeletal age less than "real age" in total, which accounted for 36.6% (303/829), and accounted for 40.8% (303/742) in 742 cases with "age" cases. If the normal age range between both was less than 0.5 year (including 0.5), the numbers of such cases decreased to 190 cases, which accounted for 22.9% (190/829) and 25.6% (190/742), respectively. When the difference was within 0.5, the "age" close to the skeletal age would be more reliable. It was difficult to confirm which one was wrong if the difference was 0.6-2.0 years. However, the error possibility in "age" would increase with increasing the difference value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many uncertain factors may lead to that the skeletal age was less than the "age". The occurring rate for the skeletal age less than "age" is not low. The identification conclusion shall be made with caution after comprehensive assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Second Clinical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China. qianli686@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Guo-Hong
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu-Xing
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: He-Xiong
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zhan-Tong
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult