Now a day, determination of age and sex of skeleton remains or of advanced decomposed body is an important task for the Forensic Expert to help in the investigation of concern case. It may arise in case of homicide, fire, explosion or mass disasters such as flood, earthquake, railway or aircraft accidents, etc. for determination of identity. In developing countries like India, because of illiteracy, ignorance regarding the age proof is much more. importance of official records like birth and death, vast majority of population fail to give information of such vital events to the appropriate authorities entitled with these jobs. This causes paucity in such information when needed in a medico legal case. Sternum as a single bone can be used for age determination in young adult, middle age and old persons.

The present study has been conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Radiology, Pt. B. D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, with an attempt to study the mesosternum of sternum in the purview of existing parameters of the determination of age. It includes a study of fusion of sternebrae with each other in relation to age. A total of 200 Sternums of known age and sex (100 males and 100 females) of aged group 10-35 years, were collected from identified dead bodies that were brought to the Department of Forensic Medicine for post-mortem examination. The study was conducted by gross and radiological methods and finding were correlated by statistical methods. The study showed that the fusion of sternebrae of mesosternum occurs between 15-25 years, from below upward.

Keywords: Sternum, Mesosternum, Sternebrae, Gross and Radiological findings, Fusion.

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Dr Avinash Kumar

Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, A.I.I.M.S, Patna, Bihar, India