Sex Determination From the Bicondylar Width of the Femur: A Nepalese Study Using Digital X-ray Images

Background One of the important components of forensic identification is sex determination. The prediction of sex becomes easy with a complete skeleton. The problem arises with mutilated and incomplete skeletal remains. The skull and pelvis are preferred for sex prediction, but not uncommonly, long bones are brought for forensic examination. The femur out stands as the most dimorphic long bone. The literature on sex determination from the femur in different population groups is in abundance. The forensic anthropology literature suggests that longitudinal dimensions are often less discriminating than the breadth and circumference of long bones. Many researchers have suggested that the bicondylar width of the femur is the most dimorphic dimension. Objective To evaluate the sexing potential of the bicondylar width of the femur in the Nepalese population using digital X-ray images. Method A sample of 200 digital X-ray images of the knee belonging to 100 males and 100 females was used to measure the bicondylar width of the right femur. These digital X-ray images were those of Nepalese patients who visited the Department of Radiology at the affiliate hospital of Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Result The resent study reveals a statistically significant difference for the bicondylar width of the femur between males and females. A regression equation was derived with sectioning point 77.84. Using the regression equation the prediction of sex was 68% with an overlapping of 32%. Having a low prediction in comparison to other studies in different populations, 95% confidence interval for the mean was used to get a range of measurements of the bicondylar width for males and females. The range stated in the present study is 79.47 mm to 82.20 mm for males and 73.75 mm to 75.93 mm for females. Conclusion The bicondylar width of the femur cannot be individually recommended for sex determination in the Nepalese population, but could be considered if analyzed along with the other morphometric traits for sex determination.