Journal de recherche médico-légale

Sex Determination in Egyptian Population from Scapula by Computed Tomography

Abstract

Doaa A El Morsi, Ghada Gaballah, Walaa Ibrahim and Ahmed Ibrahiem Tawfik

Sex determination is important for individual identification. The present work aims to concentrate on the accuracy of scapula for sex determination in Egyptians by using 3D multi - slice computed tomography (CT) and to generate specific population discriminant formula for Egyptians with validation of its accuracy. A descriptive comparative study is done on 100 subjects recruited from those attending the Radiology Department and subjected to CT after taken informed consent. Seven dimensions are taken for each subject from each scapula. The results reveal males have larger scapula than females with no statistical significant difference between both sides in either sex. The accuracy of both bones for sex determination reaches 88% with the scapular breadth has the highest accuracy 82%. It could be concluded that scapula is useful in sex determination and the right scapula could be used alone or in combination with the left one. The discriminant equation developed from right maximum scapular height and left length of spine could apply on Egyptian population. Also CT is a good and reliable tool for scapular measurements.