FORENSIC RELEVANCE OF CRANIAL SUTURE UNION AND SUTURE LENGTH FOR ESTIMATION OF AGE, SEX, AND STATURE IN A CENTRAL INDIAN POPULATION: A CADAVER-BASED STUDY
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Keywords
Cranial sutures; forensic anthropology; age estimation; sex determination; stature estimation; Central India
Abstract
Identification of unknown human remains is a fundamental responsibility in forensic practice. Estimation of age, sex, and stature becomes challenging when bodies are decomposed, mutilated, or skeletonised. The skull is often preserved in such conditions, and cranial sutures have been widely studied as potential forensic markers. However, population-specific variations limit the applicability of existing standards, particularly in the Indian context.
Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of sagittal, coronal, and lambdoid cranial sutures with age, sex, and stature in cadavers from Central India.
Materials and Methods: This cadaver-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at a tertiary care centre in Central India. A total of 500 cadavers of known age and sex, aged 20 years and above, were included. Degree of ectocranial and endocranial suture union and lengths of sagittal, coronal, and lambdoid sutures were assessed during routine postmortem examinations. Stature was measured prior to autopsy. Statistical analysis included correlation analysis, linear regression for stature estimation, and discriminant function analysis for sex determination using Stata version 17.0.
Results: Progressive suture union was observed with advancing age, with endocranial fusion preceding ectocranial fusion. Sagittal and coronal suture lengths showed statistically significant positive correlations with stature, with coronal sutures demonstrating the strongest association. Lambdoid suture length did not show a significant correlation with stature. Discriminant function analysis using all three sutures achieved an overall sex classification accuracy of 66.6%, with higher accuracy for males than females.
Conclusion: Cranial sutures provide supportive forensic evidence for age assessment and can aid in estimation of stature and sex when other skeletal elements are unavailable. Population-specific standards are essential, and cranial suture analysis should be used in conjunction with other forensic parameters.
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Dr Avinash Thakur
Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Mourya
Associate Professor & Head of the Department, Department of Forensic Medicine, Shrimant Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Medical College, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Dr Pavan Pandey
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sukh Sagar Medical College, Jabalpur,
