Should we consider the sex when estimating bone age from hand bone biometrics?
Age estimation
Biometry
Hand bones
Sexual dimorphism
Skeletal age
Journal
Morphologie : bulletin de l'Association des anatomistes
ISSN: 1286-0115
Titre abrégé: Morphologie
Pays: France
ID NLM: 9814314
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2023
Dec 2023
Historique:
received:
12
05
2023
revised:
21
06
2023
accepted:
22
06
2023
medline:
20
11
2023
pubmed:
6
8
2023
entrez:
5
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Recently, it was proposed to estimate age from the biometric information of hand bones. We observed that these estimations became less precise as children get older, especially from the age of 13-15 years. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of considering sex for age estimation based on hand bones biometrics. The study sample consisted of metacarpals and proximal phalanges measurements collected on 1003 medical images performed at Nancy and Marseille Hospitals of individuals aged under 21 years. This sample was divided into two subgroups delineated by the age of 13, as it is a relevant legal threshold for most European countries. First, the influence of sex on the hand bones biometrics and on the estimated age was evaluated. Then, based on these results, new sex-specific age estimation formulas were constructed from linear models and their precision was assessed using residual analysis, in comparison with previous global formulas. An influence of sex was only highlighted from the age of 13 and for the total study sample. Thus, new sex-specific age estimation formulas were built for the [1-21] global sample and the [13-21] subsample. Even though the differences with the previous formulas were minor, age was more accurately estimated when sex was considered. Considering sex in age estimation is relevant when relying on hand bone biometrics. A new tool was proposed to select the most appropriate age estimation formula, based on the discriminant analysis result and the a priori knowledge of the sex.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Recently, it was proposed to estimate age from the biometric information of hand bones. We observed that these estimations became less precise as children get older, especially from the age of 13-15 years.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of considering sex for age estimation based on hand bones biometrics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODS
The study sample consisted of metacarpals and proximal phalanges measurements collected on 1003 medical images performed at Nancy and Marseille Hospitals of individuals aged under 21 years. This sample was divided into two subgroups delineated by the age of 13, as it is a relevant legal threshold for most European countries. First, the influence of sex on the hand bones biometrics and on the estimated age was evaluated. Then, based on these results, new sex-specific age estimation formulas were constructed from linear models and their precision was assessed using residual analysis, in comparison with previous global formulas.
RESULTS
RESULTS
An influence of sex was only highlighted from the age of 13 and for the total study sample. Thus, new sex-specific age estimation formulas were built for the [1-21] global sample and the [13-21] subsample. Even though the differences with the previous formulas were minor, age was more accurately estimated when sex was considered.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Considering sex in age estimation is relevant when relying on hand bone biometrics. A new tool was proposed to select the most appropriate age estimation formula, based on the discriminant analysis result and the a priori knowledge of the sex.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37543030
pii: S1286-0115(23)00068-1
doi: 10.1016/j.morpho.2023.06.003
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
100608Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.