Characteristics of patients used for study:
(1) ages from 13 to 62 years
(2) included both Whites and Blacks
total osteon density =
= ((number of intact osteons seen) + (number of fragmentary osteons seen)) / (area examined microscopically in square millimeters)
where:
• intact osteons are secondary osteons with at least 90% of the perimeter of the Haversian canal exhibiting no evidence of resorption
• fragmentary osteons are remodeled osteons, including those with at least 10% of their Haversian canal perimeter with evidence of resorption
age estimate in years based on rib histology =
=EXP(2.343 + (0.050877 * (rib osteon density)))
age estimate in years based on clavicle histology =
=EXP(2.216 + (0.07028 * (clavicle osteon density)))
age estimate in years based on rib and clavicle histology =
=EXP(2.195 + (0.029904 * (rib osteon density))+ (0.03543 * (clavicle osteon density)))
If both rib and clavicle osteon density is known, the combined equation is preferred over the estimates based on the separate bones, since it offers greater accuracy and reliability.