Determination of Age of Epiphyseal Union of Bones Around Knee Joint by Radiological Approach in the Varanasi Region

Background: Age is an important parameter for medico-legal cases. Age of epiphyseal union is an important objective method of age determination. But these ages vary with racial, geographic and various other factors. These variations have suggested need of separate standards of ossification for separate regions. Methods: After approval from institutional ethical committee, present work was undertaken to work out ages of epiphyseal union around knee joint for Kolhapur region. Study was carried out in total 200 healthy subjects aging from 13 to 21 years.  Results: The chronological age was determined & A-P view of right knee joint was taken in each case. These radiographs were studied to determine the age of union of epiphyses of lower end of femur, upper end of tibia & upper end of fibula. Conclusions: These ages were compared with those reported from various states of India & abroad.