Post-mortem estimation of gestational age and maturation of new-borns by CT examination of clavicle length, femoral length and femoral bone nuclei

• Published in: Forensic science international 2020-09, Vol.314, p.110391-110391, Article 110391
• Main Authors: Feld, Katharina, Bonni, Marcel, Körber, Friederike, Eifinger, Frank, Banaschak, Sibylle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Age determination; Age Determination by Skeleton - methods; Autopsy; Beclard’s bone nucleus; Cadaver; Clavicle; Clavicle - diagnostic imaging; Clavicle - growth & development; Diameters; Epiphyses - diagnostic imaging; Epiphyses - growth & development; Epiphysis; Female; Femur; Femur - diagnostic imaging; Femur - growth & development; Forensic Anthropology; Forensic osteology; Forensic pathology; Forensic sciences; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mathematical analysis; Maturation; Maturity; Parameter estimation; PMCT; Pregnancy; Proximal tibial epiphysis; Standard deviation; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110391

•Estimation of maturity seems to be reliable by examination of clavicle-length, femoral length and femoral bone nuclei.•Measurement of long tubular bones lenght and diameters of bone nuclei is a proven method to assess gestational age/maturity.•Measurement of clavicle length leads to generally lower estimation of the gestational age.•Measurement of the femoral length and diameter of distal femoral epiphysis leads to a higher estimation of gestational age. Various parameters can be used for the estimation of gestational age and maturity with arising challenges in the assessment of decomposed bodies. In order to assess gestational age and thus maturity, the study measured the femoral length, the diameter of the distal femoral epiphysis and the presence of the proximal tibial epiphysis compared to a known clavicle length. The resulting gestational ages were compared and statistically evaluated. As a result, discrepancies between the estimated gestational ages became apparent in some cases when comparing the individual structures to be measured. However, there was a clear tendency towards a lower gestational age calculated based on clavicle length and a higher gestational age calculated based on femoral length and distal femoral epiphysis. With regard to the assessment of maturity, it has been concluded that, if the proximal tibial epiphysis is present, maturity can also be assumed based on the diameter of the distal femoral epiphysis and the length of the femur.