Cierre de suturas

A new method for estimation of age-death based on the degree of suture closure is presented. The method employs simple ectocranial scoring of specific sites on the external table. Composite scores for two groups of sutures, lateral-anterior and vault systems, which are used to provide estimates of age-at-death, have been developed from a sample o 236 crania from the Hamann-Todd Collection. Avariety of test show that the lateral-anterior sutures are superior to endocranial observation, and that age estimates are independent of race and sex. It is concluded that suture closure can provide valuable estimates of age-at-death in both archaelogical and forensic contexts when used in conjuction with other skeletal age indicators.
Un nuevo método para la estimación de la edad de muerte basadaen el grado de sutura se presenta. El método emplea puntuación ectocranial simple de sitios específicos en la tabla externa. Las puntuaciones compuestas por dos grupos de suturas, lateral anterior y los sistemas de bóveda, que se utilizan para proporcionar estimaciones de la edad a la muerte, se han desarrollado a partir de una muestra o 236 cráneos de la colección Hamann-Todd. Una variedad demostrar el resultado de la prueba de que las suturas laterales-anterior son superiores a la observación endocraneal, y que las estimaciones de la edad son independientes de la raza y el sexo. Se concluye que el cierre de la sutura puede proporcionar estimaciones valiosas de edad en situación de muerte en ambos contextos arqueológicos y forenses cuando se utiliza en conjunción con otros indicadores dela edad ósea.

Methods of observation

Small (1 cm) lengths of a suture or specific sites (e.g., the region surrounding bregma) were selected for inspection. A score was recorded for that site- other activity close to the site was disregarded. In addition, a simplified scale was employed in order to maximize repeatability and ease of scoring. Each site was assigned on of four degrees ofclosure:
0: Open; there is no evidence of any ectocranial closure at the site;
1: Minimal Closure; some closure has occurred. This score is given for any minimal to moderate closure, i.e., from a single bony bridge across the suture to about 50% synostosis at the site;
2: Significant Closure; there is a marked degree of closure but some portion of the site is still not completely fused;
3: CompleteObliteration; the site is completely fused.
It should be noted that in the above scoring system only one significant judgment need ever be made by the observer, that of choosing between scores of 1or 2 for a site with substantial activity. Our experience with this system has led us to conclude that this is not difficult to judge in all but a few cases, and that the above system is highlyrepeatable from one observer to another.
Subsequent to Todd and Lyon’s original studies (1924, 1925 a-c), ectocranial observation has been consistently rejected in favor of endocranial closure. Todd and Lyon believed endocranial closure to be more reliable because of the phenomenon they termed “lapsed union” They observed that a suture may display union on the endocranial surface, but closure may fail to“spread” to the external surface. The critical forensic questions, however, do not involve the regularity of closure during the early adult years, but the nature and degree of synostosis during the later years. Because ectocranial activity is far more closely associated with extreme age (for which new forensic standards are most needed) we elected to score only the external table of each cranium.Pequeñas (1 cm) de largo de una sutura o en los sitios específicos (por ejemplo, la región que rodea a bregma) fueron seleccionados para la inspección. Una puntuación se registró que cerca la actividad del sitio, otros en el sitio fue tenida en cuenta. Además, una escala simplificada fue empleado con el fin de maximizar la capacidad de repetición y la facilidad de puntuación. Cada sitio ha...