title: The utility of the proximal epiphysis of the fifth metatarsal in age estimation.
abstract: Radiographs of 277 living individuals were assessed via a numerical scoring system to determine the timing of appearance and degree of fusion between the proximal epiphysis of the fifth metatarsal and its diaphysis. The epiphysis was observed to first appear in females at 8 years and 10 years in males and fuse by 14 years in females and 15 years in males. When assessing the level of agreement of category assignment, inter-observer agreement was 78% for females and 64% for males whereas intra-observer agreement was 77% for females and 86.1% for males. These results suggest that the maturation of the proximal epiphysis of the fifth metatarsal may be of value in age estimation in the child and that the scoring system is sufficiently robust to merit continued investigation. Previously this epiphysis has been considered an inconstant feature, but this research confirmed its presence in all individuals studied.
authors: 1Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK.
authors: Catriona M
authors: CM
authors: Davies
authors: Lucina
authors: L
authors: Hackman
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Black
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; 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; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D016348:Osseointegration; D012606:Scotland; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: age estimation; epiphyseal union; fifth metatarsal; foot; forensic anthropology; forensic science