Metric assessment of femur using discriminant function analysis in South Indian population.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sex determination from unidentified human skeletal elements is a challenge for forensic investigators and anthropologists. This study aims to detect the best variable for sex determination from different parameters of femur. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted with 75 (40 males and 35 females) femora of known sex from the Department of Anatomy. Eight parameters were measured and subjected to univariate statistics, multivariate analysis such as discriminant analysis and logistic regression analysis employing SPSS 13.00 version program. Results: The epicondylar breadth, antero-posterior diameter of lateral condyle, proximal breadth, vertical diameter of head and neck are statistically significant for dimorphism (p<0.05). Discriminant analysis shows an overall accuracy of 62.7% and stepwise discriminant analysis shows an accuracy of 65.3%.Under stepwise analysis epicondylar breadth was selected as the best discriminant variable for sex prediction. Discussion: Results implies that epicondylar breadth of femur is the best parameter for sex determination which agrees with available literature in different population. It can be correlated to delayed ossification of growing lower end in males giving higher value. Due to early maturity dimorphism is less in the upper end of the bone. Conclusion: The results of present study confirm that epicondylar breadth is one of the good parameters in femur for sexing in unidentified skeleton.