Aims: To assess the relationships between the level of persistence of the epiphyseal scar and chronological age, biological sex and side of the body in relation to the interpretation of epiphyseal scars in methods of skeletal age

Background: It is imperative that all methods applied in skeletal age estimation and the criteria on which they are based have a strong evidential basis. The relationship between the persistence of epiphyseal scars and chronological age however has remained largely untested. Aims: To assess the relationships between the level of persistence of the epiphyseal scar and chronological age, biological sex and side of the body in relation to the interpretation of epiphyseal scars in methods of skeletal age estimation. Subjects and methods: A sample of radiographic images was obtained from the Tayside NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK. This included images of four anatomical regions from living female and male individuals aged between 20 and 50 years. Results: Some remnant of an epiphyseal scar was found in 78-99% of individuals examined in this study. The level of persistence of epiphyseal scars was also found to vary between anatomical regions. Conclusion: The overall relationship between chronological age and the level of persistence or obliteration of the epiphyseal scar was found to be of insufficient strength to support a causative link. It is therefore necessary that caution is employed in their interpretation in relation to skeletal age estimation practices. The epiphyseal scar: changing perceptions in relation to skeletal age estimation Catriona Davies PhD1, Lucina Hackman PhD2 and Sue Black PhD2. 1Division of Anatomy, Leeds Institute for Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9JT 2Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH Corresponding Author: Dr Lucina Hackman, Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH