Inter-population differences in acetabular senescence: relevance in age-at-death estimation

Abstract Since investigation of the timing of the skeletal traits among the acetabula of different populations is lacking, this study aims to evaluate the relevance of geographical origin in the acetabulum aging process and in the usability of the SanMill án-Rissech aging method. The acetabula of 826 European North Americans derived from the Bass Collection (USA) have been analyzed and compared with 611 Portuguese acetabula from the Luis Lopes Collection (Portugal) applying the most updated acetabular age estimation technique (2017). After evaluatin g and comparing the acetabular aging rates between both populations by Mann–WhitneyU tests, the inaccuracy values (bias and absolute error) were analyzed and compared using population-specific reference samples and using references differing in geographical origin by Wilcoxon tests. In general terms, the North Americans age faster than the Portuguese, especially the females, reaching the consecutive acetabular stages at younger ages. Regarding the SanMill án-Rissech method accuracy, using population-specific reference samples produces, as a general rule, better outcomes. In addition, an exhaustive meta-analysis of inaccuracy values has demonstrated that this method provides better estimation values than pubic symphysis and auricular surfaces regardl ess of the geographic coherence of the reference sample. These inter-population skeletal differences are derived from different factors than age, highlighting the impact of both...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - Category: Medical Law Source Type: research