Age Estimation from Second Metacarpals in Children

抄録

On the basis of cross-sectional data of 630 boys and 611 girls aged 0 to 19 years investigated during 1959-60, the present study attempts to estimate age from skeletal maturity and measurements (length, width and cortical thickness) of an isolated second metacarpal. A combination of the maturity score with the bone length gives a better estimate of age than either one of the bone measurements or a combination of them. However, the maturity score alone does not necessarily provide a better estimate of age than the bone length. In skeletal remains of immature children, the epiphysis is not usually available to estimate age. Age could be estimated by means of multiple linear equations from the diaphyseal length and width of the second metacarpal with a standard error of 1.26 years in immature children aged 6 to 17 years, regardless of sex. Although, this method certainly seems to be useful for age estimation of a population, it is not necessarily applicable to individuals. In addition, the equation obtained from the variables in this series is not universally applicable to other populations or to Japanese of earlier eras, with the same degree of certainty.