A cross sectional discriptive study of analysis of lambdoid and squamous sutures closure by Ct scan for age estimation

Abstract

Background– Identification is fixation of an individuality by various physical and biological parameters. An individual’s age determination is very important in various civil and criminal medicolegal cases. Age estimation by cranial sutures closure is an old method. This study was conducted to analyze closure of lambdoid and squamous sutures for age estimation in living individuals by CT scan. Objectives– To study the pattern of closure of lambdoid and squamous sutures with relation to age of person. To detect bilateral and bisexual variations in same. Materials & Methods–We had done a descriptive cross-sectional study by CT scan head of 130 living adult persons and analyzed them for closure status of lambdoid and squamous sutures in co-relation to age. Results– In Lambdoid suture complete closure observed 5yrs earlier in upper 2/3rd(L1&L2) parts of right side than left side in both sex while while complete closure observed very late ages(>75yrs) or not at all(lapsed union) in lower 1/3rd(L3) part. Both sides of Squamous sutures follow more or less same pattern for closure in relation to age and sex while complete closure observed at very late ages(>75yrs) or not at all(lapsed union). Conclusion– Closure of Lambdoid and Squamous sutures should be used only as corroborative to other criteria and evidences for age estimation as they might be unreliable as standalone until proven otherwise.