PMCT Evaluation of Medial Clavicular Epiphysis Fusion for Age Estimation in the North Indian Population

Age estimation is a critical component in forensic investigations. The fusion stages of bones, particularly the medial clavicular epiphysis, offer reliable markers for estimating age, especially in individuals below 25 years. Despite the available data in the literature, population-specific standards should be developed and validated using the contemporary geographical population. This study aimed to investigate the fusion patterns of the medial clavicular epiphysis in the North Indian population using post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans. This study comprised 500 samples (327 males and 173 females) with ages below 25 years. Using PMCT scans, the ossification patterns of the medial clavicular epiphysis were classified into four stages: Stage 0 (absence of ossification center), Stage 1 (appearance without fusion), Stage 2 (partial fusion), and Stage 3 (complete fusion). This study revealed a significant correlation between fusion stages and chronological age, with Spearman’s correlation coefficients of ρ = 0.819 for males and ρ = 0.797 for females, and statistically significant gender differences. Linear regression models were developed for both sexes, predicting age with mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 1.36 for males and 1.88 for females. Validation of these models demonstrated their utility in estimating age with high accuracy, though the models tended to slightly underestimate age, especially in females. This study confirms that medial clavicular epiphyseal fusion patterns are reliable indicators for age estimation in the North Indian population. The findings emphasize the importance of population-specific criteria in forensic age estimation, providing a precise tool for forensic practice.