Evaluation of diabetic children in terms of forensic age estimation

Purpose: Age determination has gained more and more importance from a legal and medical standpoint. The Children whose Diseases that affect normal growth and development use of methods of age determination for normal children may lead to the violation of the rights. Our study aims for a research if the Diabetes Mellitus, which is the most common endocrine – metabolic disorder in the childhood and adolescent period effects the bone age or not. Material and Method: In this study, graphs of the left wrists are evaluated pro-retrospectively. These graphs were taken using proper techniques and taken from the people whose ages are in between 9-18, medical examination has done, evaluation has done in terms of Tanner criterias, who has Diabetes Mellitus and applied to Duzce University Medical Faculty Pediatrics Polyclinic between September 2010 and March 2016. According to TW3 method the evaluation has an age limit and it is 16 for females and 16 years 6 months for males. Because of these limitations, statistical analysis was done over 84 cases (38 female, 46 male). Findings were compared with the results of the similar works in the literature. Findings: When the difference between the carpal ages and the chronological ages of the cases examined separately in terms of the gender, it is seen that there is not a meaningful difference between the carpal and chronological ages (p=0.267 and p=0.565) for both females and males. It is also seen that; in females, age group 13 (p=0,010), in males age group 9 (p=0,045) have a meaningful difference between their carpal and chronological ages. The carpal age is greater in these age groups (-1,24 for females, -0,70 for males). However, when the compliance in other age groups is considered, it is thought that the lack in the number of the cases in this age groups caused that difference. Bone age and chronological age to estimate the regression model generated is significant in both sexes (p<0.001), for females r2 = 0,816, model fit: BA= - 0,347+(1,041xCA) and males r2 = 0,786, model; BA= 0,721+(0,941xCA). Bone age and chronological age of the model and that define each other in terms of revealed. Discussion and conclusions As a result, It is infered that, there is not a meaningful difference between the carpal and chronological ages of the subjects in terms of TW3 method. When the follow-up in periods of 3 months and regular insulin therapy of the subjects are considered, it is emphasized that a regular weight-height follow-up and a metabolic control have to be done for a proper grow and physical development of the diabetic children. We think that the TW3 atlas be used safely for diabetes children for medicolegal purposes.