Age determination of the male os pubis.

An extensive (n = 739) sample of well-documented male pubic bones was examined for age-related features. Using the traditional aging methods, Todd's system was found to over-age and both the Todd and the McKern-Stewart systems did not account for age variability seen in advanced pubic bone patterns. Based on a 5-year interobserver error study, certain categories in each system were collapsed because observers could not consistently differentiate between them by morphological pattern. The traditional and the modified versions were than analyzed using linear regression analysis. All approaches perform poorly when the entire sample is used. Truncation strategies to eliminate older individuals result in substantial improvement. The traditional Todd system and its modified form are found to be the best systems. When implementation is considered, a modified Todd six-phase system is recommended.