Identification of sex from sternum bone and the role of C.T in sex estimation

Abstract

Personal identification is a subtle perception and often one of the most significant priorities in the investigation of criminal cases, mass disasters, and forensic concerns. Sex determination is an important step in personal identification which can be done from bones examination either from their metric measurements or radiograph images especially in difficult identification as dismemberments, mutilations and explosions. In such cases, the forensic examiner can depend on bone measurements. The best result of sex determination is achieved by accessing the entire skeleton, Skeletal remains traditionally used for gender identification (pelvis, long bones, and skull) are commonly restored in fragmented or states. When the entire skeleton is present, identification of age and sex can be done with 80% to 100% accuracy. The sternum is one of these bones which are being commonly used for sex identification either by direct measurement of dried sternum bones from dead bodies or indirect measurement of images taken from chest radiographs. Studies on sternal length for sex determination were done mostly on cadaveric dissections and recently some studies have utilized radiological measurements also.