An Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains with Cerebral Palsy: Associated Skeletal Age Delay and Dental Pathologies

:  In 2002 the authors were asked to examine the skeletal remains of an individual with a known history of severe cerebral palsy (CP) who was 21–23 years old at death. Skeletal age estimates of 11–15 years and dental age estimates of c. 16 years are younger than the known age of the decedent. Skelet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic sciences 2009-03, Vol.54 (2), p.270-274
Main Authors: Megyesi, Mary S., Tubbs, Ryan M., Sauer, Norman J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
African Continental Ancestry Group
Age Determination by Skeleton
Age Determination by Teeth
age estimation
Bone and Bones - abnormalities
Bones
Bruxism - pathology
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral Palsy - pathology
Child
Dental Calculus - pathology
Dental Occlusion
Dental Plaque - pathology
Dentition
epiphyseal fusion
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Dentistry
Forensic pathology
forensic science
Human remains
Humans
Male
Severity of Illness Index
skeletal development
Skeletal system
Teeth
Tooth Abrasion - pathology
Tooth Apex - anatomy & histology
Tooth Root - anatomy & histology
Young Adult
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Summary::  In 2002 the authors were asked to examine the skeletal remains of an individual with a known history of severe cerebral palsy (CP) who was 21–23 years old at death. Skeletal age estimates of 11–15 years and dental age estimates of c. 16 years are younger than the known age of the decedent. Skeletal analysis also identified dental pathologies such as chronic tooth grinding and substantial calculus deposits. Scarce literature exists on forensic human remains cases with CP, and this study contrasts the age discrepancy and other features of this case with typical clinical characteristics of CP. A review of the CP literature suggests that delayed skeletal maturation and dental pathologies such as those observed in this case are indicative of complications related to CP. This article may alert future investigators to some of the osteological signs of CP and the probability that age indicators may be misleading.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00948.x