Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh St, Southbank, Melbourne 3006, Australia.
Forensic Sci Int. 2010 Jul 15;200(1-3):161-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.009. Epub 2010 May 6.
Current knowledge concerning closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis is inadequate for age estimation purposes in that of the few detailed studies conducted, these demonstrate considerable variation concerning the age at which the synchondrosis commences and completes fusion, thus creating uncertainty for forensic investigators who may use this developmental feature for age determinations. The aim of the present study was to determine the sequence and timing of closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis for a large sample of a modern Australian population to assess if this age marker is a useful tool for age estimation for individuals around the age of 18 years. The sample consisted of 666 individuals in the age range 15-25 years, who were admitted to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) mortuary and who had undergone routine full body multi-slice CT imaging. Results show that fusion was well underway by the age of 15 years and was complete by 17 years. Fusion begins superiorly and progresses inferiorly. Persistence of a scar at the site of fusion was demonstrated through to age 25 years. After the age of 16 years there was no significant difference in progress of fusion between males and females. The study showed that this age marker is of limited value for age estimations around the age of 18 years in this population.
目前对于蝶枕结合部的闭合知识还不足以满足年龄推断的需要，因为少数详细的研究表明，蝶枕结合部在开始融合和完成融合的年龄上存在很大的差异，这给可能使用这种发育特征进行年龄推断的法医调查人员带来了不确定性。本研究的目的是确定一个大样本的现代澳大利亚人群中蝶枕结合部的闭合顺序和时间，以评估这个年龄标志物是否是一个有用的工具，用于推断 18 岁左右个体的年龄。样本由 666 名年龄在 15-25 岁之间的个体组成，他们在维多利亚法医研究所（VIFM）太平间接受了常规的全身多层 CT 成像检查。结果表明，融合在 15 岁时已经开始，到 17 岁时已经完全完成。融合从上方开始，向下方推进。在融合部位的疤痕一直持续到 25 岁。16 岁以后，男性和女性融合进展没有显著差异。研究表明，在该人群中，这个年龄标志物在 18 岁左右的年龄推断中价值有限。
