Background: The study of epiphyseal union of bones is considered a reasonably accurate and accepted as a standard method for age determination. There is a variation in the timing of appearance and fusion of epiphysis of the bones. So, the present work is to investigate the ages of epiphyseal union around shoulder joint radiologically in boys and to asses clinical relevance of non fused epiphyses in Bagalkot region Material and Methods: The present study has been conducted on 182 boys falling in the age group of 14 to 16 years, which are selected randomly from Basaveshwar English Medium School, Bagalkot, North Karnataka (India). They were subjected radiographic examination in Radiology department of Hanagal Shri Kumareshwar Medical College and Hospital, Bagalkot. The total number of beds in the hospital are 750 and also has PG training programmes in Forensic medicine department and also in other departments. Results: In our study, among 14 years Boys, epiphyses viz, Head of Humerus, Acromion Process, and Coracoid Process were in 95%, 19% and 27% respectively of advanced union (i.e -stage IV) and 0%, 56%, and 17% were completely united (i.e- StageV) in 14 years of boys. Among 15 year Boys, the epiphyses viz, Humeral head, Acromion and Coracoid process were in 1%, 5% and 3% respectively of advanced union (i.e-stage IV) and5%, 56%,and 50% were completely united (i.e - StageV) in 15 years of boys Conclusion: Relative difference among 14 year and 15 years Boys showing advanced union and complete union of epiphyses of humeral head, acromion process and coracoid process depicts that there is progressive ossification with age in boys of 14 to 16 years of age.
