Forensic Investigation Of Wormian Bones In Northwest Indian Population- A CT Scan Based Study

Abstract

Skeletal remains play a significant role in the process of personal identification. These remains may indicate an important lead in investigation.Wormian bones are the bones developed within the cranial sutures. These bones are small and irregular in shape and size. In forensic scenario, if studied carefully, may prove an important collaborative evidence but very little research on this aspect has been published. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of wormian bone in contemporary Northwest Indian population, their topographic distribution, possible correlations with sex and age through CT scan data of skull. The sample size for the current study was 1248 CT scans of Northwest Indian population (636 male and 612 female) between the age group of 20 to 80 years. Total six parameters were under investigation for the present study. The percentage of subjects with the presence of wormian bone, location, type, direction, shape, vertical and transverse diameter of wormian bone were analysed. The percentage of incidence of wormian bone was 30.4% in the collected sample, with males having 18.6% and females with 11.7%. As per the analysis of the samples, the highest percentage of wormian bones was present on the centre with 48.9%. All the types of wormian bones were present in the present study except type 11 and type 12. Male exhibits higher values of vertical and transverse diameter than female. But there was no statistically difference in vertical and transverse diameter of male and female wormian bone, according to p-value (VD-0.403 and TD- 0.914). It was evident from the present study, that the incidence of wormian bone is very less in the present population as compared with other population. Therefore, it can be used in identification of an individual and for the estimation of an ancestry for the present population group. Radiologists may find the wormian bone's insights to be helpful in distinguishing between fractured and normally sutured bones. Wormian bones can be used in identification of an individual and for the estimation of an ancestry for the present population group.