Sonographic examination of the apophysis of the iliac crest for forensic age estimation in living persons.

The present study examines the applicability of ultrasound diagnostics in assessing the ossification processes of the apophysis of the Crista iliaca of the pelvis for the purposes of forensic age diagnostics in living persons. To this end, the apophyseal ossification stages were determined in 307 female and 309 male study participants aged between 10 and 25 years. In females, ossification stage I was identifiable at an age of 10.1 years at the earliest (x¯=11.8), ossification stage II at 11.2 years at the earliest (x¯=14.6), ossification stage III at 14.7 years at the earliest (x¯ =18.6), and ossification stage IV at 17.9 years at the earliest (x¯=22.7). In males, ossification stage I was observable from an age of 10.0 years (x¯=11.8), ossification stage II from 10.5 years (x¯=14.9), ossification stage III from 15.6 years (x¯=18.9), and ossification stage IV from 17.4 years (x¯=22.6). In forensic age estimation procedures in living persons, sonographic examination of the iliac crest apophysis makes it possible to minimise exposure of the individual to radiation in accordance with the existing legal basis for the use of X-rays on humans. In application areas with no legal basis to justify X-ray examinations, the accuracy of an age diagnosis can be improved by integrating skeletal maturity as a criterion.