Observational study of complete fusion of end of femur among adolescent population at S.M.S Medical College, Jaipur during year 2021-2022

ABSTRACT: Background: Bone age is an indicator of the skeletal and biological maturity of an individual. Skeletal ossification progression studies are one of them and are admissible in court as unparalleled scientific evidence for age estimation. Age group of juveniles between 12 - 18 years is dealt with special laws for medico- legal cases. Aim: To study the age of fusion of ossification centres of upper end of femur in adolescent population of Jaipur region. Material & Methodology: An observational prospective study was conducted on Healthy Adolescents of 12-18 years of age group from Jaipur region were taken in the study. The present study had been conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, SMS Hospital, Jaipur in association with Department of Radiology, SMS Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jaipur during the period from June 2021 to May 2022. Result & Observation: This observational study examined the stages of skeletal maturation and the fusion of the upper end of the femur among male and female adolescents. The study was conducted on a sample of male and female subjects aged 12 to 18 years. The key findings indicate that in male subjects aged 12-15 years, the greater trochanter and head of femur were not fused in all subjects. Fusion began to appear at age 15-16 years, with a progressive increase in the number of fused cases in older age groups. Among female subjects, the pattern is similar, with no fusion observed in subjects aged 12-15 years. Fusion starts appearing at age 15-16 and becomes more prevalent in older subjects. These findings provide valuable insights into the timeline and progression of skeletal maturation in adolescents, highlighting age-specific variations in the fusion of the greater trochanter and head of femur. This data can inform clinical practices, forensic investigations, and educational frameworks related to adolescent health and development. Conclusion: Complete fusion of ossification centres for greater trochanter and head of femur can be implemented in routine forensic practice for 12 – 18 years age group to opine about age of subjects with lesser age range. Keywords: Age estimation, adolescent, greater trochanter, head of femur, X-ray, Fusion.