OSSIFICATION TEST

TAG: GS-2: POLITY & SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:  The Mumbai police have confirmed that Dharmaraj Kashyap, one of the three accused in the murder case of NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, is not a minor. ANI reported that the confirmation came after an ossification test was conducted on him.

EXPLANATION:

About Ossification test: 

• • An ossification test is a medical procedure that analyses bones in order to determine age.
  • This test involves taking x-rays of certain bones in the body, such as the clavicle, sternum, and pelvis, to determine the degree of growth in our bones.
  • Because certain bones harden and fuse with each other at certain ages according to a human’s developmental stage, the bones can be a way of marking age.
  • These bones are chosen because they tend to undergo the most dramatic changes in their form as a person ages.
    • Example: The clavicle, for instance, is a long bone connecting the shoulder blade to the sternum. It undergoes a gradual fusion of growth plates as a person matures.
  • In children and adolescents, ossification reflects the progression of bone development, with certain bones hardening at specific ages.

Application of Ossification test:

• • This test is commonly used in forensic science and legal contexts to accurately determine an individual’s age when needed.
  • It is also used in some medical settings, such as to assess skeletal maturity in children with growth disorders.

What are the types of heterotopic ossification?

• • Nongenetic: These can affect people of all ages. Sometimes they occur with no known cause. More often, they’re a response to some sort of trauma. That trauma can be an injury or it may be the trauma of surgery.
  • Genetic: These types are far less common. Genetic types are more likely to cause malformations in your spine, hands or feet. Genetic heterotopic ossification can be severe.

What are the symptoms of nongenetic heterotopic ossification?

• • Heterotopic ossification symptoms can vary. They depend on how far the disease has progressed and how severe it is. In its early stages, heterotopic ossification often causes:
    • Pain
    • Swelling
    • Tenderness
  • As heterotopic ossification advances, you may notice a bump under your skin. The bump may grow quickly into a large lump that you can’t easily move with your fingers. It may be tender to the touch.
  • In later stages, the lump may harden. If it’s near a joint, such as your hip or shoulder, it may restrict your range of motion.

What are the symptoms of genetic heterotopic ossification?

If you have FOP that leads to heterotopic ossification, you may have:

• • • Misshapen big toe.
    • Spinal malformations.
    • Structural problems in your fingers.
  • As FOP progresses, most people have severe symptoms, including difficulty walking or even breathing. This rare cause of HO can shorten your lifespan.
  • POH is associated with symptoms that affect your skin. In this form, bones form in subcutaneous tissue, the layer of fat between your skin and muscle. As the disease progresses, bones may form in your deeper connective tissues.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/bone-ossification-test-baba-siddique-murder-case-9622507/