Top

Published in:

01-01-2006 | Original Article

Reference data for the Thiemann–Nitz method of assessing skeletal age for the purpose of forensic age estimation

Authors: Andreas Schmeling, Uta Baumann, Sven Schmidt, Klaus-Dieter Wernecke, Walter Reisinger

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2006

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the statistical parameters of deviation in the Thiemann–Nitz method for use in forensic age diagnostics. To this effect, 402 hand radiograms, originally taken in two large German cities between 1983 and 2002 for the purpose of diagnosing trauma, were analyzed. At the time of examination, the patients were aged between 10 and 18 years. The study presents the mean, standard deviation, and median, with lower and upper quartiles, for the skeletal ages of 11.0 through 18.0 years. The simple standard deviations range between 0.2 and 1.2 years. To increase the accuracy of age estimates and improve the identification of age-relevant developmental disorders in forensic age estimation practice, the methods for determining skeletal age should always be combined with a physical and dental examination. In addition, the expert opinion should pay attention to the issue of different modernization levels in relevant populations.

Andersen E (1971) Comparison of Tanner–Whitehouse and Greulich–Pyle methods in a large scale Danish survey. Am J Phys Anthropol 35:373–376PubMedCrossRef

Cole AJL, Webb L, Cole TJ (1988) Bone age estimation: a comparison of methods. Br J Radiol 61:683–686PubMed

Dünkel F, van Kalmthout A, Schüler-Springorum H (1997) Entwicklungstendenzen und Reformstrategien im Jugendstrafrecht im europäischen Vergleich. Forum, Mönchengladbach

Geserick G, Schmeling A (2001) Übersicht zum gegenwärtigen Stand der Altersschätzung Lebender im deutschsprachigen Raum. In: Oehmichen M, Geserick G (eds) Osteologische Identifikation und Altersschätzung. Schmidt-Römhild, Lübeck, pp 255–261

Greulich WW, Pyle SI (1959) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA

Johnston FE, Zimmer LO (1989) Assessment of growth and age in the immature skeleton. In: Iscan MY, Kennedy KAR (eds) Reconstruction of life from the skeleton. Liss, New York, pp 11–21

Kaatsch H-J (2001) Juristische Aspekte der Altersschätzung. In: Oehmichen M, Geserick G (eds) Osteologische Identifikation und Altersschätzung. Schmidt-Römhild, Lübeck, pp 243–254

King DG, Steventon DM, O'Sullivan MP, Cook AM, Hornsby VP, Jefferson IG (1994) Reproducibility of bone ages when performed by radiology registrars: an audit of Tanner and Whitehouse II vs. Greulich and Pyle methods. Br J Radiol 67:848–851PubMedCrossRef

Olze A, Schmeling A, Taniguchi M, Maeda H, Van Niekerk P, Wernecke K-D, Geserick G (2004) Forensic age estimation in living subjects: the ethnic factor in wisdom tooth mineralization. Int J Legal Med 118:170–173CrossRefPubMed

10.

Olze A, Bilang D, Schmidt S, Wernecke K-D, Geserick G, Schmeling A (2005) Validation of common classification systems for assessing the mineralization of third molars. Int J Legal Med 119:22–26CrossRefPubMed

11.

Paewinsky E, Pfeiffer H, Brinkmann B (2005) Quantification of secondary dentine formation from orthopantomograms—a contribution to forensic age estimation methods in adults. Int J Legal Med 119:27–30CrossRefPubMed

12.

Roche AF, Chumlea WC, Thissen D (1988) Assessing the skeletal maturity of the hand–wrist: Fels method. Thomas, Springfield, IL

13.

Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Loreck D, Vendura K, Markus W, Geserick G (2000) Effects of ethnicity on skeletal maturation—consequences for forensic age estimations. Int J Legal Med 113:253–258CrossRefPubMed

14.

Schmeling A, Kaatsch H-J, Marré B et al (2001) Empfehlungen für die Altersdiagnostik bei Lebenden im Strafverfahren. Rechtsmedizin 11:1–3CrossRef

15.

Schmeling A, Olze A, Reisinger W, König M, Geserick G (2003) Statistical analysis and verification of forensic age estimation of living persons in the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University Hospital Charité. Leg Med 5:S367–S371CrossRef

16.

Schmeling A, Schulz R, Reisinger W, Mühler M, Wernecke K-D, Geserick G (2004) Studies on the time frame for ossification of medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage in conventional radiography. Int J Legal Med 118:5–8CrossRefPubMed

17.

Schmeling A, Schulz R, Danner B, Rösing FW (2005) The impact of economic progress and modernization in medicine on the ossification of hand and wrist. Int J Legal Med 10.1007/s00414-005-0007-4

18.

Schulz R, Mühler M, Mutze S, Schmidt S, Reisinger W, Schmeling A (2005) Studies on the time frame for ossification of the medial epiphysis of the clavicle revealed by CT scans. Int J Legal Med 119:142–145CrossRefPubMed

19.

Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH, Marshall WA, Healy MJR, Goldstein H (1975) Assessment of skeletal maturity and prediction of adult height (TW2 method). Academic, London

20.

Tanner JM, Healy MJR, Goldstein H, Cameron N (2001) Assessment of skeletal maturity and prediction of adult height (TW3 method). Saunders, London

21.

Thiemann H-H, Nitz I (1991) Röntgenatlas der normalen hand im Kindesalter. Thieme, Leipzig

Title: Reference data for the Thiemann–Nitz method of assessing skeletal age for the purpose of forensic age estimation
Authors: Andreas Schmeling
Uta Baumann
Sven Schmidt
Klaus-Dieter Wernecke
Walter Reisinger
Publication date: 01-01-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-005-0002-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Reference data for the Thiemann–Nitz method of assessing skeletal age for the purpose of forensic age estimation

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2006

Sudden death in childhood due to varicella pneumonia: a forensic case report with clinical implications

Does imaging technology overcome problems of conventional postmortem examination?

Allele frequencies for 15 STR loci in a population from the Republic of Macedonia

The influence of slice thickness on assessment of clavicle ossification in forensic age diagnostics

M. Tsokos (ed), Forensic Pathology Reviews, Vol 3, Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 2005, ISBN 1-58829-416-1, 468 pp

Characterization of mtDNA SNP typing and mixture ratio assessment with simultaneous real-time PCR quantification of both allelic states