Forensic Age Estimation Study Evaluates Pelvic Bone Maturity in 288 Egyptians

A study published in Scientific Reports on 17 October 2026 has evaluated three methods for estimating age from pelvic X-rays, highlighting the importance of population-specific validation in forensic examinations.

Researchers analysed digital pelvic radiographs from 288 Egyptian individuals, comprising 127 males and 161 females aged 10–30 years. The study compared three systems for assessing ossification of the iliac crest apophysis, a region of bone development associated with skeletal maturity.

The methods examined were the US Risser system, the French Risser system and the modified Kreitner–Kellinghaus system. Researchers assessed how well each method distinguished individuals above and below the legal-adulthood threshold of 18 years.

The French Risser and modified Kreitner–Kellinghaus systems demonstrated stronger discriminatory performance than the US Risser system. Their areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.953 and 0.956, respectively, compared with 0.806 for the US system.

However, the findings also revealed an important limitation: complete iliac crest fusion was observed in some individuals younger than 18. Therefore, a fully fused growth plate cannot independently establish that a person has reached legal adulthood.

The researchers concluded that the French Risser and modified Kreitner–Kellinghaus systems could serve as supplementary tools in forensic age assessment when suitable pelvic radiographs are available. The results also underline why methods developed for one population should not automatically be assumed to perform identically in another.

For forensic practitioners, the study reinforces a central principle: skeletal maturity is evidence relevant to age estimation, not a definitive measurement of chronological age. Results should be interpreted alongside other appropriate indicators, methodological limitations and the applicable legal framework.