An Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains with Cerebral Palsy: Associated Skeletal Age Delay and Dental Pathologies

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 270 - 274
• Main Authors: Megyesi, Mary S., Tubbs, Ryan M., Sauer, Norman J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2009; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; African Continental Ancestry Group; Age Determination by Skeleton; Age Determination by Teeth; age estimation; Bone and Bones - abnormalities; Bones; Bruxism - pathology; Cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy - pathology; Child; Dental Calculus - pathology; Dental Occlusion; Dental Plaque - pathology; Dentition; epiphyseal fusion; Forensic Anthropology; Forensic Dentistry; Forensic pathology; forensic science; Human remains; Humans; Male; Severity of Illness Index; skeletal development; Skeletal system; Teeth; Tooth Abrasion - pathology; Tooth Apex - anatomy & histology; Tooth Root - anatomy & histology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00948.x

:  In 2002 the authors were asked to examine the skeletal remains of an individual with a known history of severe cerebral palsy (CP) who was 21–23 years old at death. Skeletal age estimates of 11–15 years and dental age estimates of c. 16 years are younger than the known age of the decedent. Skeletal analysis also identified dental pathologies such as chronic tooth grinding and substantial calculus deposits. Scarce literature exists on forensic human remains cases with CP, and this study contrasts the age discrepancy and other features of this case with typical clinical characteristics of CP. A review of the CP literature suggests that delayed skeletal maturation and dental pathologies such as those observed in this case are indicative of complications related to CP. This article may alert future investigators to some of the osteological signs of CP and the probability that age indicators may be misleading.