Gender differences in carpal height ratio in a taiwanese population.
OBJECTIVE
To discover whether there is a significant difference in carpal height ratio (CHR) between men and women aged 20 to 50 years.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 261 cases of normal plain wrist radiographs and measured the CHR using the Picture Achieving and Communication System. Each case was then stratified by gender and age (20-29, 30-39, and 40-50 y).


RESULTS
The mean CHR was 0.52 +/- 0.03 for men (range, 0.43-0.59), 0.50 +/- 0.03 for women (range, 0.43-0.57), and 0.51 +/- 0.03 for the total population (range, 0.43-0.59). The difference in CHR between men and women was statistically significant (p<.01). However, there was no significant difference (p=.13) among age groups in either men or women.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend using gender-specific norms (ie, 0.52 +/- 0.03 for men and 0.50 +/- 0.03 for women, respectively) for CHR. Without gender specification, a subtle abnormality may be overlooked in men, and there may be an overdiagnosis of carpal disorder in women. Further investigations are needed to look into possible racial differences, because our study is based on a homogeneous ethnic Chinese population.
Department of Radiology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Yung-Cheng
YC
Wang
Ying-Chi
YC
Tseng
Hsio-Yun
HY
Chang
Yu-Jen
YJ
Wang
Chi-Jen
CJ
Chen
Der Yang
DY
Wu
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050824:Carpal Joints / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult