Nasal Septum Patterns Through Panoramic Radiographs: A Forensic Study

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate patterns occurring in the nasal septum in the digital orthopantogram samples. In disasters such as natural disasters, accidents like fire or road traffic accidents, where the human body becomes severely destroyed or damaged, human skull radiography becomes a useful tool for identification of the human remains. Here, the study is done using a digital radiograph, which can be used to identify the human skull by determining the pattern of nasal septum.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the uniqueness of various nasal patterns on Orthopantograms for determining the gender and personal identification. A total of 200 OPGs were selected and nasal septum patterns were evaluated. The radiographs were taken from Carestream CS8100 Orthopantogram-Xray machine and Carestream software. The OPGS were then traced was done through adobe acrobat software application to evaluate various patterns of the nasal septum.
Result: Straight nasal septum was observed in 160 subjects, Nasal septum pattern with left deviation was found in 18 subjects, right deviated Nasal septum pattern was showed with 13 subjects. The total distribution of gender was 101 males (50.5%) and 99 females (49.5%). Straight Nasal septum deviation was recorded maximum in both the genders followed by left Nasal septum deviation.
Conclusion: It was concluded that nasal septum deviations are an important consideration in forensic investigations.
Aim: To evaluate the patterns occurring in the nasal septum in the digital orthopantogram (OPG) samples.
Objectives
•To study and determine the various patterns of the nasal septum.
•To classify the various patterns and deviations of nasal septum through digital OPG.
•To investigate its role in forensics.