IJCRR - 6(18), September, 2014
Pages: 35-38
Date of Publication: 21-Sep-2014
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CORRELATION OF AGE AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES AT STERNAL END OF FOURTH RIBS AT RAJKOT REGION
Author: Sunil M. Doshi, Viral N. Chauhan, H. M. Manga, Kunal Pipalia, Viral Aghera, Dipen Dabhi
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Abstract:Objectives: To study metamorphological changes at sternal end of fourth ribs according to age in males. To find any bilateral variation in morphological changes for different ages. Research methodology: The samples consist of sternal ends of fourth ribs on both sides taken from the cadavers brought for postmortem examination. Total 140 rib ends were taken from 70 male bodies having more than 17 years of age. After removing soft tissues, Ribs were classified according to different phases and mean age for each phase had been derived. Observations and conclusions: the morphological changes were age dependent without any significant bilateral variation. Observations were compared with the previous study.
Keywords: Sternal end of rib, Morphological changes, Age
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INTRODUCTION
Age determination from unknown skeletonised bodies depends on many factors. One of them is, whether the received skeleton is of young age or belongs to older age. It has been shown that accurate methods are available to justify younger ages, but the same becomes a difficult task with increasing age. For years, Methods are available for age estimation based on morphological changes in various places which include cranial sutures, auricular surface and pubic symphysis. The studies reflect that progress of suture closure and changes at auricular surface have only a very general relationship with age1 ,2 . Moreover, it has been shown that age estimation for a skeleton should not be based on pubic morphology alone3,4 . The existing method for age estimation using sternal end of fourth rib was developed by M.Yasar Iscan et al. (1984)5 on white males and in white females6 . The ribs are classified according to the various stages of morphological changes at their medial ends at different ages.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study was conducted at the department of Forensic medicine and toxicology, P.D.U. Medical College and hospital, Rajkot with 70 male cases having age above 17 years. The materials for the present study consisted of fourth ribs, bilaterally. Materials were obtained from the cadavers brought for the post-mortem examination after taking necessary consent. The information about the age of the deceased was verified by necessary documents. Fourth ribs from both sides were removed by cutting them by bone cutters a few centimeters away from costochondral junction. After removing muscular tissues, the ribs were soaked in plain water (without added salt) in a glass container with appropriate identity tag for 1 to 3 weeks depends on detachment of tissues. All adherent soft tissues and costal cartilage were then easily detached. The ribs were given phase numbers (0 to 8)
based on morphological changes noted at the costochondral junction with special attention to the pit, its shape, its depth, status of the walls, rim surrounding it and the overall quality of the bone itself. The phases are defined as phase 0 to phase 8 as described below. Phase 0 - The sternal surface of rib end is nearly flat with ridges. The rim at sternal end is regular with rounded edges, and the rib end is smooth and solid. Phase 1 - A very shallow, amorphous indentation present at the articular surface. The rim is rounded and regular. The bone remains firm, smooth and solid. Phase 2 - The anterior and posterior walls of the pit are making a V - shape deepness. Some scallops begin to form at the rounded edge of the rim. The bone is firm and solid. Phase 3 - The V-shape of the pit is wider with some increased depth, the walls become a little bit thinner. The rounded edges show regular scalloping. The bone is still firm and solid. Phase 4 - The pit has a wide V- or more or less narrow U-shape. The walls become thinner, but the rim maintains its roundness. Some areas still show scalloping. The overall quality of the bone is good with some decrease in firmness as well as density. Phase 5 - There is no any change in pit depth, but the walls continue to become thin and sharp, making pit shape wider V- or U. No any scalloping pattern remains. The rim starts to become irregular. The bone looses density and firmness further. Phase 6 - pit shape continues to become wider V- or U-shape with a noticeable increase in depth. The quality of bone deteriorates further and becomes more porous. Some projections start appearing from the rim. The walls are fairly thin and brittle. Phase 7 - pit depth shows no change, then the previous phase. Pit shape shows irregular and wide U like structure. Irregular bony projections are seen protruding from superior and/or inferior edges of medial end of the rib. The walls are very thin, brittle and having sharp edges. Phase 8 - in the last phase, overall quality of the bone has badly deteriorated with fragile walls, irregular projections from superior and/or inferior edges of medial end of rib, extreme porosity and comparatively shallow pit with wide mouthed U shape. The rib itself is extremely thin, light in weight at medial end.
OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION
The data derived from the study is classified according to different phases as described in materials and methods. Mean ages, Standard deviation and standard error are derived from different ages found for each phase. Table-1 and table-2 shows that the mean age increases as the phase increases up to phase 5. Maximum number of samples were founded with phase 3 on both sides. No any sample found belongs to phase 0 and phase 8. One way anova analysis for left fourth ribs was applied, which resulted in F-ratio 48.636 and p-value 0.000 and for the right fourth ribs F –ratio is 45.339 and p-value is 0.000. The paired T test is applied to find bilateral variations of metamorphological changes according to age. The correlation coefficient is more than 0.9 for phase analysis. A correlation coefficient of more than 0.8 is suggestive of strong correlation7 . So it is concluded that metamorphological changes according to age have no any significant bilateral variation. Observations of present study related to phase method are compared with studies done by Iscan and Loth8 . Table-3 shows a comparison of phase changes in males belonged to modified Iscan and Loth study8 with the present study. Both the studies show that mean age increased as the phase increased. Iscan and Loth study8 shows mean age was gradually increasing from phase 1 to phase 8 while present study shows mean age is increasing from phase 1 to phase 5 but not for phase 6 and phase 7. This can be explained by the presence of samples having age more than 65 but shows the morphological changes of earlier ages as evident from table 1 and 2 under heading of maximum age. No any sample was found for phase 0 and phase 8. Mean age was approximately 2, 5, 14, 19, 23, 9 years more for phase 1 to phase 6 respectively in the present study as compared to study done by Iscan and Loth8 , suggests that changes related with phase are delayed in the present study as compared to Iscan and Loth study8 . The data graphically represented in a figure-1.
CONCLUSIONS
Morphological changes at sternal end of fourth ribs are age dependant. No any significant variability found in relation to the side of the ribs. The chances of significant variations in phase with the actual age increase for the samples belong to 65 years and above age, the cause of which remains obscure. Morphological changes related with phase are delayed in the present study when they are compared with previous studies of Iscan and Loth8 .
References:
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