Reference study on the time frame for ossification of the distal radius and ulnar epiphyses on the hand radiograph.
Hand radiographs from 554 male and 288 female subjects aged 10-30 years, which had been taken due to traumatological indications, were evaluated. A classification into five ossification stages was applied to assess the epiphyseal development of distal radius and distal ulna (1: epiphysis not ossified; 2: epiphysis ossified, nonunion of the epiphysis and metaphysis; 3: partial union of the epiphysis and metaphysis; 4: complete union of the epiphysis and metaphysis, epiphyseal scar visible; 5: complete union of the epiphysis and metaphysis, epiphyseal scar nondiscernable). It was established that male subjects with an ossification stage 4 of the radius or ulna and female subjects with an ossification stage 5 of the radius were at least 14 years old. The occurrence of ossification stage 5 of the radius proves that a male individual has reached the age of 18 years.
Baumann
U
U
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10553 Berlin, Germany.
Schulz
R
R
Reisinger
W
W
Heinecke
A
A
Schmeling
A
A
Schmidt
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D054881:Sex Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D055815:Young Adult