Correlation of Sex & BMI with Fusion of Human Sternum in ‘Bengalee’ Population from Dead Bodies Sent for Autopsy in NRSMCH Morgue

Abstract

Background: Sternum is the bone which gives a fair idea for the estimation of age in the later decades
of life. It is a well established fact that factors like endocrinal, heredity, climate, diatic habits have certain
degree of influence over bony union and it is also proved that epiphyseal union occurs one to two years
earlier in females than in males. BMI (Body Mass Index) is defined as person’s weight in kilograms divided
by the square of height in meters. Methods: The aim of the study is to establish any Correlation of sex and
BMI with the fusion of different parts of Sternum in Bengalees.120 sternums are studied in this study over
a period of 1.5 years from the dead bodies of ‘Bengalee’ persons sent for Post Mortem examination in the
Hospital morgue, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, N.R.S Medical College & Hospital,
Kolkata. Concussion: There was no significant difference between male and female in respect to the ages
showing fusion. When the BMI of the subjects were compared with different grades of fusion between the
sternal segments, significant statistical correlation was found between the fusion of sternebrae and the BMI,
but fusion of Xiphisternum and Manubrium with Mesosternum did not show any statistically significant
correlation. Sexual variation of ages for fusion of sternum was not found in ‘Bengalee’ population. Nutritional
status has a significant effect on the fusion of the sternebrae with each other, but no significant effect on the
fusion of xiphisternum and manubrium with body of sternum.