Quantitative assessment of trabecular bone pattern identification

The results of the research described in this paper demonstrate that the tr abecular architecture is unique to each individual and stable enough to be used as a forensic marker for positive identification of human remains. The trabecular bone architecture depicted on radiographs is often used as a n individualizing forensic marker for positive identification of human rema ins. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the reliability of the trabec ular pattern in forensic identification. The trabecular pattern is potentia lly the best radiographic forensic marker since its presence on a radiograp h doesn't depend on a previous pathology or traumatic event. A sample of 305 radiographs of the left wrist of 103 postmenopausal women w as studied using an image analyzer. The uniqueness and stability over time of the trabecular architecture was examined by creating line maps or "densi tographs" of the ultra-distal point of the radius of each roentgenogram. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for all possible combina tions of pairs of radiographs. The correlation coefficient of pairs of radi ographs of the same individual, taken at different times (2 to 6 years apar t), was always higher than 0.72, while the correlation coefficients of radi ographs of different individuals was always below 0.62.