Sex Determination in a Sample of Egyptian Population based on Outer and Medullary Metacarpal Measurements. A Multi-Detector Computed Tomographic Study

Prediction of sex from incomplete and decomposing skeletal remains is vital in establishing the identity of an unknown individual. The purpose of this study is to assess the applicability of outer and medullary parameters of third and fourth metacarpals using multi-detector computed tomography in sex determination in Egyptian population. All measurements showed significant sexual differences (P < 0.05). By simple discriminant analysis, mediolateral diameter of midshaft of the third metacarpal showed the highest percentage of accuracy (69%) in sex determination. This study concluded that metacarpals are useful bones for sex determination and also it imposes new forensic standards for determination of sex in Egyptian metacarpals using various discriminant formulae.