Horathal Pedi Gedara Dinusha Udayangani , Bimali Sanjeevani Weerakoon

Abstract

Gender determination in a living human being based on the skeleton system remains a challenge obviously because a human skeletal does not show a consistent or gradual growth rate. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of gender determination from the linear measurments of metacarpals and phalanges using hand radiographs. A retrospective, quantitative study was conducted and computed and digital hand posterior-anterior radiographs were taken using the standardized imaging protocol (total=80, male=40, female=40). The linear measurements of metacarpals and the proximal, middle and distal phalanges were obtained. The results showed that males having significantly larger metacarpals and phalanges than females (p< 0.05). The Standardized Canonical Discriminant Function Coefficients were reported as M4=.659, MP3 = .394, DP3 = .328, M1 = .267, PP3 = .258, DP4 = .176, M3 = .105, PP1 = .103, PP4 = .089, DP2 = .077, M2 = .054, and MP1 = .045.  It can be concluded that linear measurements of each metacarpal and the proximal, middle and distal phalanges of the right hand can be used to distinguish the gender of individuals of the Sri Lankan population. Further, linear measurments of the 4th metacarpal from hand PA radiographs can be highly contributed to predicting the gender while MP3 and DP3 follow the significant contribution. Further studies are recommended with a larger sample to confirm the results.