Introduction

A key component of medico-legal investigations is forensic age estimate, which enables the assessment of an individual's chronological age based on biological indicators. These estimates are crucial in a variety of situations, such as the identification of unknown people, determining the age of live people whose birth documents are questionable, and offering significant evidence in criminal investigations. Given its non-invasive nature and capacity to provide precise three-dimensional images of skeletal structures, post-mortem computed tomography (CT) has drawn a lot of interest among the different techniques used for forensic age estimates. A particularly promising area of research for age estimate is the trabecular bone alterations of the pelvic bone. The spongy, lattice-like structure which composes up the inside of bones and is in charge of supplying support and strength is referred to as the trabecular bone. The trabecular bone gradually changes as we become older, including changes to its density, structure, and shape. Numerous skeletal components, including the pelvis, have shown these age-related alterations in trabecular bone, which have been connected to age-related illnesses including osteoporosis (Villa et al., 2013).

Biological Profiling and Age Estimation

A forensic anthropologist has to generate a biological profile of the victim based on skeletal details seen when evaluating the remains in order to identify a person. An estimation of the four class characteristics known as age, sex, stature, and geographic population affinity that are determined from skeletal features is referred to as a biological profile (Márquez-Grant, 2017).

There are different ways of skeletal age assessment in the field, but macroscopic inspection of morphological changes in characteristics on the bone surface is the most common. The majority of bone surfaces that are used to estimate age are joints, where two surfaces rub against one another while the body moves. As a result of this movement and the aging-related deterioration of the bone surface, a morphological metamorphosis eventually takes place (Altes, 2018).

Macroscopic approaches are less expensive because they only need skeletal remains, an understanding of human anatomy, and the right technique. However, because to the reliance on the examiner, macroscopic approaches do have a tendency to have a higher rate of intraobserver error. Radiology, microscopy, radiocarbon analysis, and DNA analysis are further techniques that can be used to estimate the age of skeletal remains.

The pubic symphysis and the auricular surface of the ilium are the two most often used sites for macroscopic age estimates in adult skeletal remains. Occasionally, the vertebral column, acetabulum, sternal ends of the ribs, cranial sutures, and radiographic imaging of bone density have also been employed (Işcan, 2017). In forensic or physical anthropology, the pubic symphysis is the most often used and thoroughly researched bone age indication. The pubic symphysis and auricular surface of the ilium are usually used because they are resistant to degradation after the person has passed away. Even among prehistoric populations, the auricular surface of the ilium has a particularly high survival and finding rate, making it a highly advantageous surface option (Priya, 2018). The basic profile of a person can be provided by forensic anthropological studies, which may help to reduce the number of possible identities. Here, more advanced and contemporary methods of identification, including DNA, can be utilized to verify identity (Flanagan et al., 2019).