Intra- and inter-observer variation in histological criteria used in age at death determination based on femoral cortical bone

Forensic Science International : Synergy
Niels LynnerupBruno Frohlich

Abstract

The microscopic method of age at death determination was introduced by Kerley in 1965. The method, which relies on the quantification of selected elements in cortical bone tissue, has been widely used, and several other researchers have modified or added to the method. Yet, very few studies have been carried out dealing with the intra- and inter-observer error. Furthermore, when such studies have been completed, the statistical tools for assessing variability have not been adequate. This study presents the results of applying simple quantitative statistics on several counts of microscopic elements as observed on photographic images of cortical bone, in order to assess intra- and inter-observer error. Overall, substantial error was present at the level of identifying and counting secondary osteons, osteon fragments and Haversian canals. Only secondary osteons can be reliably identified, precluding the use of osteon fragments and Haversian canals. The observers in this study included experienced and inexperienced users of the microscopic method, yet the variability was uniformly large for all observers, suggesting fundamental problems in definition and identification of the structural elements. Until more rigorous definitions of ...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1977·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M Bouvier, D H Ubelaker
Nov 1, 1978·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·E R Kerley, D H Ubelaker
Feb 1, 1991·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M F Ericksen
Nov 1, 1970·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·I J Singh, D L Gunberg
Jun 1, 1965·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·E R Kerley
May 1, 1980·Forensic Science International : Synergy·S D Stout, S J Gehlert
Jan 1, 1995·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·S PfeifferJ Chiang
Feb 1, 1994·Forensic Science International : Synergy·M YoshinoS Seta
Nov 1, 1995·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M Abou-ArabN Lynnerup

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Citations

Apr 7, 2010·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Catherine CannetBertrand Ludes
Oct 20, 2015·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Justyna J Miszkiewicz, Patrick Mahoney
Mar 26, 2015·Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism·Justyna J Miszkiewicz
Mar 15, 2006·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Niels LynnerupJørgen L Thomsen
Mar 17, 2010·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Chiara Villa, Niels Lynnerup
Jun 16, 2012·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·David C RoseJulie S Field
Oct 13, 2009·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Laurent MartrillePaul Fornes
Apr 11, 2019·International Journal of Legal Medicine·D BothaM Steyn
Nov 26, 2021·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Christian CrowderSophia Mavroudas

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