Hip joint and age relationship in Thai population by image processing technique

Bone age is a critical factor in personal identification, with the hip joint—encompassing the acetabulum andfemoral head—commonly used in age estimation. Age assessments rely on factors such as bone porosity and morphologicalcharacteristics. These are currently conducted by experts and their conclusions can vary. The logistical challenge oftransporting physical bones complicates the process. The increasing use of image processing techniques in the medicalfield provides a more efficient and convenient alternative. This study used image processing methods to analyze area ratiosand percent porosity of the acetabulum and femoral head, with a statistical evaluation of the relationship between theseparameters and age at a 90% confidence level (α=0.10). The dataset comprised images from 167 skeletons including 59 femalesaged 30 to 88 and 108 males aged 28 to 97. The analysis revealed a significant relationship between percent porosity and age inmales, both in the acetabulum and femoral head, with P-values below 0.10 but this relationship was not observed in females. A significant relationship between area ratio and age was found in the femoral head region for both genders but not in theacetabulum. The accuracy and comparability of the results were enhanced by applying a standardized image processingprotocol.