DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i04.047

Pages: 1595-1600

Introduction: Small irregular bony structures of the human body hold a wealth of information that can be used to establish and complete the biological profile of an individual; hence solve sex identification puzzles especially in cases of fragmented bone. Aim and Objectives: This study was therefore carried out to investigate the reliability of the use of the CT image of the first lumbar vertebra (L1) in estimating the sex of adult Nigerians. Methods: One hundred (100) CT scan images (60 males [M] and 40 females [F]) of the first lumbar (L1) vertebrae of adult Nigerians within the age range 20-40 years were used for the study. The CT-Scans of the subjects were measured using the View Tec MedView 1.0.0.2 software program with an accuracy of 0.01mm. Seven (7) vertebral parameters were measured: Canal anteroposterior diameter (CAP-D), canal transverse diameter (CT-D), vertebra anteroposterior diameter (VAP-D), right and left pedicle width (RT & LT PH), right and left pedicle height (RT & LT PH). XLSTAT (version 2015.4.01) discriminant function analysis was used to evaluate the sex discriminatory characteristics of the L1 vertebra, while SPSS version 23 (IBM® Armork, USA) ROC Curve was used to compare predictability of the variables independently. The confidence level was set at 95% and P<0.05 was taken to be significant. Results: The mean (±S.D) values of measured dimensions of L1 vertebrae were significantly higher in males (P<0.01) except for the CAP-D, which was significantly higher in females (P<0.01), while the CT-D was not statistically different in both sexes (P=0.533). The variables entered into the DFA produced a prediction model that was significant (Lamba=0.138, P<0.01) and accurate (Rc2=86.2%), which produced a 99.0% accurate sex categorisation; with the VAP-D (ROC=0.998) as the better predictor. Conclusion: So far in the forensic studies, any human part that produces an accuracy of 99% in sex determination can be regarded as the anatomical structure of cho