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Age estimation from anterior cervical vertebral ring apophysis ossification in South Africans

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Abstract

Age estimation in living individuals around the age of 18 years remains a difficult challenge. In this study, the anterior inferior vertebral ring apophysis development of cervical vertebrae C2, C3, and C4 of 496 white and 478 black South African individuals aged between 15 and 22 years was assessed from cephalometric radiographs. Apophysis development was scored according to a four-stage scoring system. Ancestry and sex differences in apophysis maturation were assessed and likelihood values determined for individuals in each population group being 18 years, based on developmental stages. Regression equations were developed for each ancestry and sex group. The results indicated that the median ages for attainment of stages 0, 1, and 2 were below the 18-year threshold for all ancestry and sex groups. Additionally, WSA males and BSA females attained stage 3 for C2, and WSA females attained stage 3 for C2, C3, and C4, below the 18-year threshold. The presence of stage 0 for black and white males in all three observed vertebrae and stage 1 for black males for C2, C3, and C4, white females for C2 and C3, and white males for C4 indicates an age below 18 years (with a 95% or higher probability). The results indicate that anterior inferior apophysis ossification stages of C2, C3, and C4 can be used as a reliable indicator to determine the likelihood of being 18 years of age at a 95% confidence index level. Apophysis development provides a valuable addition to the methods that can be used to assess age in the adolescent years.

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Acknowledgements

The researchers wish to thank Sefako Makgatho, Health Sciences University, and Drs. Rudie Swart and Piet Botha for permission to access and use cephalometric radiographs.

Funding

The researchers would like to acknowledge funding received from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    A. Uys & H. Bernitz

  2. Department of Actuarial Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    S. Pretorius

  3. Human Variation and Identification Research Unit, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    M. Steyn

Authors
  1. A. Uys
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  2. H. Bernitz
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  3. S. Pretorius
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  4. M. Steyn
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Correspondence to A. Uys.

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The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards laid down by the Declaration of Helsinki [40]. Approval for the study was granted by the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Health Sciences (ethics reference number 263/2015).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Uys, A., Bernitz, H., Pretorius, S. et al. Age estimation from anterior cervical vertebral ring apophysis ossification in South Africans. Int J Legal Med 133, 1935–1948 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02137-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02137-7

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