RT Journal Article
T1 Sacral fusion as an aid in age estimation
A1 Ríos Frutos, Luis Francisco
A1 Weisensee, Katy
A1 Rissech, Carme
AB The degree of fusion at the anterior aspect of the sacral vertebrae has been scored in 242 male and female skeletons from the Lisbon documented collection, ranging from 16 to 59 years old in age. Statistical tests indicate a sex difference towards earlier fusion in young females compared with young males, as well as a clear association between degree of fusion and age. Similar results have been found by other authors in documented skeletal samples from Coimbra and Sassari, and the recommendations stated by these authors regarding age estimation have been positively tested in the Lisbon collection. Although more research from geographically diverse samples is required, a general picture of the pattern of sacral fusion and its associations with age and sex is emerging. We also provide a practical example of the usefulness of the sacrum for age estimation in a forensic setting, a mass grave from the Spanish Civil War. It is concluded that the scoring of the degree of fusion of the sacral vertebrae, specially of S1–2, can be a simple tool for assigning skeletons to broad age groups, and it should be implemented as another resource for age estimation in the study of human skeletal remains.
PB Elsevier
SN 0379-0738
YR 2008
FD 2008
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/100919
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/100919
LA eng
NO Ríos, Luis, et al. «Sacral Fusion as an Aid in Age Estimation». Forensic Science International, vol. 180, n.o 2-3, septiembre de 2008, p. 111.e1-111.e7.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.06.010.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025