Pattern of Fusion of Lambdoid Suture on Computed Tomography Skull for Forensic age Assessment with Documented age in Western India

Introduction Age determination is a major component of identification in forensic practice, and the skull is often the only available remain in mass disaster scenarios. The ossification stage of cranial sutures serves as a valuable tool in age assessment. The lambdoid suture is unique due to its anatomical location and biomechanical influences. With the advent of newer imaging techniques, antemortem age estimation has become increasingly feasible. Materials and Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on computed tomography findings from 126 subjects (52 females, 74 males) aged 18-96 years. The minimum sample size was calculated based on previously reported correlation coefficients (r ≈ 0.5) in studies by Rawat et al and Wilkinson et al, assuming a moderate effect size, 5% alpha error, and 80% power, yielding a required sample size of 123. Suture fusion stages were analyzed at 7 points (L1-L7) using Frederic staging and Key scoring systems. Both ectocranial and cross-sectional closure patterns were assessed. Subjects with a history of cranial surgery, trauma, bone pathology, or congenital craniofacial anomalies were excluded. Results A statistically significant positive correlation between age and stage of suture closure was observed, particularly at L1, L3, L6, and L7 ( P < .01). Weaker statistically significant correlations were observed at L2 and L5. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between external and cross-sectional fusion stages. Conclusion A positive correlation exists between chronological age and lambdoid suture fusion. However, reliance on a single suture is insufficient for accurate age estimation.